Organosulfur compounds as pre-exposure therapy for threat agents

A series of symmetric (Ar-S-S-Ar) and unsymmetric (Af-S-S-CH2CH2NH3+Cl-) di sulfides have been prepared and evaluated as potential cyanoprotective agen ts. Target compounds have been prepared by known methods and/or methods dev eloped by us specifically for this program, e,g, reaction of a thiol with 2 ,2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) (BT-S-S-BT) followed by reaction with a second thiol, Both 4-methoxyphenyl disulfide and 2-aminoethyl-4-methoxyphenyl dis ulfide hydrochloride are cyanoprotective against 2-LD50 Of injected cyanide . Evaluation of both symmetric and unsymmetric related disulfides indicates that structural requirements for cyanoprotective activity are stringent an d strongly suggest that protection is enzyme mediated. In addition to cyanoprotective action, initial results suggest that unsymme tric disulfides may evolve into effective antimustard agents. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.