A ¹⁹F-Labeled Probe for the Chiral Discrimination of Thiols and Thioethers

Sulfur-containing compounds are pivotal in cellular processes such as redox balance and signal transduction. Traditionally, these compounds, especially thiols, are detected using fluorescence probes. However, these probes fall short in targeting thioethers due to their lower reactivity. Moreover, the chiral discrimination of thiols and thioethers typically relies on chromatographic methods, where separation-free, in situ strategies are highly desirable. To address this, we have developed a novel ¹⁹F-labeled chiral platinum probe capable of distinguishing both thiols and thioethers. This technique generates distinct ¹⁹F NMR signals that correspond to the stereoconfiguration of the analytes, enabling direct determination of their enantiocomposition. This method holds potential for integration into high-throughput workflows, boosting pharmaceutical and biological research by facilitating rapid, efficient chiral analysis of crucial compounds.