Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
Published on: April 9, 2018
Thiol Catalysis of Selenosulfide Bond Cleavage by a Triarylphosphine
Olga Firstova1, Oleg Melnyk1, Vincent Diemer1
1Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019 - UMR 9017 - CIIL - Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.
Abstract:
The arylthiol 4-mercaptophenylacetic acid (MPAA) is a powerful catalyst of selenosulfide bond reduction by the triarylphosphine 3,3',3″-phosphanetriyltris(benzenesulfonic acid) trisodium salt (TPPTS). Both reagents are water-soluble at neutral pH and are particularly adapted for working with unprotected peptidic substrates. Contrary to trialkylphosphines such as tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP), TPPTS has the advantage of not inducing deselenization reactions. We believe that the work reported here will be of value for those manipulating selenosulfide bonds in peptidic or protein molecules.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Preparation and Reactions of Thiols
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation...
Structure and Nomenclature of Thiols and Sulfides
Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkenes: Wittig Reaction Mechanism
The reaction begins with the nucleophilic addition between a phosphorus ylide and the carbonyl compound. Due to its carbanionic character, phosphorus ylide acts as a strong nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbonyl group. This generates a charge-separated dipolar intermediate called betaine. The negatively charged oxygen atom and...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...

