Methimazole-disulfide as an anti-thyroid drug metabolite catalyzed the highly regioselective conversion of epoxides to halohydrins with elemental halogens

Abstract

The regioselective ring opening of epoxides using elemental iodine and bromine in the presence of methimazole (MMI, a anti-thyroid drug) and its metabolite methimazole-disulfide as new catalysts are studied. MMI easily converted in vitro to MMI-disulfide without any double activation presented in vivo. FT-Raman and UV spectroscopies are used to study the interaction of iodine with these catalysts. The results indicate that both catalysts are efficient in polyiodide formation, but MMI-disulfide can catalyze this reaction in higher yield and regioselectivity. The complex [(MMI-disulfide)I]+.I 3- is considered to be formed initially which could be bulkier by addition of excess of iodine in the course of the reaction. These bulky nucleophiles have a fundamental role in the high regioselectivity by attacking the less sterically hindered epoxide carbon. In this study we suggest that MMI is readily converted to MMI-disulfide by interaction with iodine or activated iodine in thyroid gland, and this process is responsible for high anti-thyroid activity of MMI.