Thiols : Structure, Properties and Reactions

The thiol (-SH) is an essential functional group in the biological system. The -SH groups play a catalytic and structural role in enzymes and proteins that participate in the defense against reactive oxygen species, detoxification, signal transduction, energy production, apoptosis, and other biological functions. In this compilation, the authors begin by exploring how the inorganic and organic forms of mercury interact with these macromolecules. In the following study, thiol-methacrylate networks based on a tetrafunctional thiol and dimethacrylate monomers were prepared by both photopolymerization and amine-catalyzed Michael addition reaction. The progress of the polymerization reaction was monitored by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The cured materials were characterized by measuring the glass transition temperature, the flexural modulus, and the compressive strength. In the closing study, a novel and efficient protocol is presented which has been developed for the synthesis of symmetrical disulfides from thiols using thionyl chloride as the sole oxidizing agent at ambient conditions. Also, a tentative mechanism has been reported for the reaction.