Determination of dialkyl disulphides and analysis of mercaptan-dialkyl disulphide mixtures of biological and pharmaceutical importance

Abstract

Simple titrimetric method for the determination of dialkyl disulphides based on their oxidation with N-bromosuccinimide in aqueous-dimethylsulph-oxide media has been described. That the reagent oxidises mercaptans to the corresponding dialkyl disulphides in acetonitrile medium and the latter in aqueous-DMSO to the corresponding sulphonic

acids has also been made use of in analysing, in the same sample solution, of mixtures containing mercaptans and dialkyl disulphides. The method has been extended for analysing compounds of biological and pharmaceutical importance such as cystine, and cysteine and reduced and oxidised glutathione in admixtures. The method has also been applied to the analysis of dimercaprol injection for its disulphide content.