Recent Applications of Disulfide Bond-Containing Compounds in Medicinal and Agrochemical Chemistry

This article reviews the applications of disulfide bond-containing compounds in medicinal and agrochemical chemistry. In the medical field, disulfide bonds are crucial for stabilizing bioactive molecules like insulin and ziconotide, enhancing their efficacy. For instance, insulin analogue 1 (A10-B4) exhibits relative activities of 156% and 125% against type A and B receptors, respectively. In agrochemicals, disulfide bonds significantly boost bioefficacy. Oxazoline derivative 104 has an LC₅₀ of 0.0035 mg/L against Tetranychus cinnabarinus eggs, outperforming etoxazole (0.2990 mg/L). A disulfide-containing alginate/lignin gel achieves a 67% inhibition rate against Fusarium oxysporum within 3 days at 200 mg/L. These findings highlight the versatility and importance of disulfide bonds in both fields. However, challenges like low large-scale synthesis efficiency, poor agrochemical field stability, resistance risks, and unclear environmental fate remain. The study concludes that optimizing synthesis, developing stable formulations, and exploring controllable disulfide bond technologies will further unlock the potential of these compounds, driving progress in human health and sustainable agriculture.