The regioselective ring opening of epoxides using elemental iodine and bromine in the presence of methimazole (MMI, a anti-thyroid drug) and its metabolite methimazole-disulfide as new catalysts are studied. MMI easily converted in vitro to MMI-disulfide without any double activation presented in vivo. FT-Raman and UV spectroscopies are used to study the interaction of iodine with these catalysts. The results indicate that both catalysts are efficient in polyiodide formation, but MMI-disulfide can catalyze this reaction in higher yield and regioselectivity. The complex [(MMI-disulfide)I]+.I3-is considered to be formed initially which could be bulkier by addition of excess of iodine in the course of the reaction. These bulky nucleophiles have a fundamental role in the high regioselectivity by attacking the less sterically hindered epoxide carbon. In this study we suggest that MMI is readily converted to MMI-disulfide by interaction with iodine or activated iodine in thyroid gland, and this process is responsible for high anti-thyroid activity of MMI.

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