Thiols dimerization

Figure 21-2. Fatty acid synthase multienzyme complex. The complex is a dimer of two identical polypeptide monomers, 1 and 2, each consisting of seven enzyme activities and the acyl carrier protein (ACP). (Cys— SH, cysteine thiol.) The— SH of the 4 -phosphopantetheine of one monomer is in close proximity to the— SH of the cysteine residue of the ketoacyl synthase of the other monomer, suggesting a "head-to-tail" arrangement of the two monomers. Though each monomer contains all the partial activities of the reaction sequence, the actual functional unit consists of one-half of one monomer interacting with the complementary half of the other. Thus, two acyl chains are produced simultaneously. The sequence of the enzymes in each monomer is based on Wakil.

Antioxidant free radicals (A H) produced in this way are relatively stable, but they may react with another lipid free radical to form a quinone [15.3] and [15.4]. Quinones can react with amine or thiol groups of proteins, forming polymerisable yellow or red coloured compounds (Pokorny, 1987). Antioxidant free radicals may also react with either another antioxidant free radical or a lipid free radical, forming dimers [15.5] or copolymers [15.6] and [15.7], respectively. Oligomeric or condensated products of antioxidant free radicals usually possess moderate antioxidant activities too (Pokorny et al, 1974) ... 

Copper(II) complexes of 2,6-lutidylphenylketone thiosemicarbazone, 38, have been prepared from copper(II) chloride and copper(II) bromide [186]. Similar to 2-pyridyl thiosemicarbazones, 38-H coordinates via the ring nitrogen, the azomethine nitrogen and the thiol sulfur based on infrared spectral assignments. Magnetic susceptibilities and electron spin resonance spectra indicate dimeric complexes and both are formulated as [Cu(38-H)A]2 with bridging sulfur atoms. The electronic spectra of both halide complexes show band maxima at 14500-14200 cm with shoulders at 12100 cm S which is consistent with a square pyramidal stereochemistry for a dimeric copper(II) center. 

Phenols are important antioxidants, with vitamin E being the most important endogenous phenolic membrane-bound antioxidant. Membrane levels of vitamin E are maintained through recycling of the vitamin E radical with ascorbate and thiol reductants. Vitamin E is a mixture of four lipid-soluble tocopherols, a-tocopherol being the most efiective radical quencher. The reaction of a-tocopherol with alkyl and alkylperoxyl radicals of methyl linoleate was recently reported. These are facile reactions that result in mixed dimer adducts (Yamauchi etal., 1993). 

Tri-tert-butoxidesilanethiolate forms complexes with both Co11 and Co111. Reaction of the thiol with a Co11 ammine in water yields a dimer which undergoes oxidation in an ammonia-saturated atmosphere to form octahedral [Co(SSi(0-t-Bu)3)2(NH3)4]+, the first silanethiolate characterized structurally.1044... 

The palladium-catalyzed formation of sulfides can generate polyphenylene sulfide from a dithiol and a dibromoarene, or from 4-bromobenzenethiol (Equation (38)).17 In 1984 Asahi Glass obtained patents for the formation of this polymer in the presence of palladium and nickel catalysts.125,126 In addition, Gingras reported palladium-catalyzed couplings of aryl halides and thiols to form discrete phenylene sulfide oligomers.127,128 A number of polyphenylene sulfide wires, ranging from dimeric to pentameric structures, were prepared by the palladium coupling, albeit in modest yields ... 

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