On the product of the reaction between cysteamine and 3-bromopyruvate

Some properties of TZCA, the addition compounds of cysteamine and 3-bromopyruvate, have been investigated. From the behaviour of the UV absorption spectra in acidic and alkaline solutions in the presence or absence of oxygen, it was shown that the instability of TZCA was imputable to an oxidative degradation. It was further shown that TZCA undergoes in alkali spontaneous oxidative decarboxylation, and that the arising product may be hydrolyzed to cystamine and glyoxylic acid. Some chemical reactions and the paper chromatographic behaviour of TZCA are reported. It was shown that TZCA, despite its great instability, may be the reactions described, and thus differentiated from other adducts of bromopyruvate and different aminothiols.