Mesoionic 5-alkyl-1,3-dithiolium-4-thiolates: Synthesis and brine shrimp toxicity

Abstract

A series of twelve 1,3-dithiolium-4-thiolate mesoionic compounds were synthesized and characterized. The synthetical approach starting from α-bromoalkanoic acids to obtain the corresponding 2-N-morpholino-dithiocarbamoyl-carboxylic acids that by on-pot reaction with carbon disulfide and acetic anhydride in triethylamine formed not isolate intermediates, 1,3-dithiolium-4-olates. After, the 2-N-morpholino-5-alkyl-1,3-dithiolium-4-thiolates were obtained by retro 1,3-dipolar addition reactions. The alkyl moiety linked to C-5 of heterocyclic ring permitted the increase of the hydrophobic character and this effect was evaluated on Artemia salina lethality. The results indicated a bell-shaped relationship between the number of carbon of side chain in mesoionic derivatives and LD50 in brine shrimp toxicity assays.