Bovine serum albumin triggered waste-free aerobic oxidative coupling of thiols into disulphides on water: An extended synthesis of bioactive dithiobis(phenylene)bis(benzylideneimine) via sequential oxidative coupling-condensation reactions in one pot from aminothiophenol and benzaldehyde

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been explored for aerobic oxidative coupling of thiols (aromatic, heterocyclic as well as aliphatic) on water towards formation of disulphides (S-S) without using any metal/non-metal complexes, bases and additives, which renders the process environmentally benign and economically attractive with good recyclability (up to four cycles). The developed green protocol was further extended for synthesis of diallyldisulphide (DADS), an important constituent of natural occurring allicin. Among various synthesized disulphides, bis(2-aminophenyl)disulphide, obtained by oxidative coupling of 2-aminothiophenol in BSA, was further utilized for condensation with benzaldehyde in the same pot thus enabling easy access to bioactive dithiobis(phenylene)bis(benzyldeneimine). This is the first example of BSA catalysed sequential (oxidation/condensation) reaction where one S-S and two C-N bonds are formed solely on water. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.