Premium
Chemical Properties of N ‐Chlorotaurine Sodium, a Key Compound in the Human Defence System
Author(s) -
Gottardi Waldemar,
Nagl Markus
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
archiv der pharmazie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.468
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1521-4184
pISSN - 0365-6233
DOI - 10.1002/1521-4184(200212)335:9<411::aid-ardp411>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - chemistry , taurine , disproportionation , thio , chemical compound , sodium , chlorine , chemical synthesis , combinatorial chemistry , medicinal chemistry , toxicity , biochemistry , organic chemistry , in vitro , amino acid , catalysis
N ‐Chlorotaurine (NCT) is known to play an important role in the human defence system. The already proved utility of the sodium salt as a disinfectant in human medicine suggested a thorough investigation of its chemical properties. Chlorine transfer to N‐H groups (transhalogenation) and oxidation of thio and aromatic compounds represent its main reactions. Auto‐chlorination causes disproportionation forming N , N ‐dichlorotaurine (NDCT) with K d = [NDCT][taurine]/f a [NCT] 2 aH + = (4.5 ± 0.8) × 10 6 , while the reaction with ammonium releasing NH 2 Cl is characterised by K NHCl2 = [NH 2 Cl][taurine]/[NCT][NH 4 + ] f a 2= 0.02 ± 0.004.The verified unique stability and lowlevel reactivity of NCT are considered essential for its function in the mammalian defence system and its practical applicability, which manifests itself in an optimal compromise between microbicidal activity and toxicity.