DL-тиоктовая кислота

DL-α-Lipoic acid is a cyclic disulfide antioxidant that interconverts with its reduced dithiol form. It is an essential cofactor for decarboxylation reactions of the citric acid cycle, and acts as a general antioxidant. DL-α-lipoic acid can act as a direct radical scavenger, as a cofactor to regenerate reduced glutathione, and as a metal chelator.

Light-Yellow Solid

(±)-α-Lipoic acid has been used in in vitro lipoylation studies and in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC)-pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDHK) functional assay. It has also been used to investigate its antioxidative effect on developing cerebellum of rats exposed to arsenic during postnatal period.

Oxidized form. Has antioxidant properties. Growth factor for many bacteria and protozoa.

Lipoic acid(ALA), also known as α-lipoic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) or thioctic acid, has the formula C₈H₁₄S₂O₂ and systematic name 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid. It contains a disulfide group, which can be transformed in the body to a dithiol group.
ALA has been on the market since the 1950s as a dietary supplement. It is a natural antioxidant usually made by the body. The advantage of ALA over other antioxidants such as vitamin C and E is that it is soluble both in water and in fat. Researchers in the former Soviet Union found that ALA can chelate mercury once it is transformed into the dithiol-containing compound. ALA can penetrate both the blood–brain barrier and the cell membrane and therefore would be a very interesting chelating agent. Nevertheless, there is much debate about its mode of action, side effects and effectiveness. Other antidotes, such as BAL and DMSA, are more efficient in the removal of heavy metals. ALA has not received FDA approval as a chelating agent, but it is still sold as a food supplement.

It forms yellow needles from cyclohexane or hexane and has been distilled at high vacuum; and sublimes at ~90o and very high vacuum. It is insoluble in H2O but dissolves in alkaline solution. [Lewis & Raphael J Chem Soc 4263 1962, Soper et al. J Am Chem Soc 76 4109, Reed & Niu J Am Chem Soc 77 416 1955, Tsuji et al. J Org Chem 43 3606 1978, Calvin Fed Proc USA 13 703 1954.] The S-benzylisothiuronium salt has m 153-154o (evacuated capillary, from MeOH), 132-134o, 135-137o (from EtOH). The dand lforms have m 45-47.5o and [] D 23 ±113o (c 1.88, *C6H6) and have UV in MeOH with max at 330nm ( 140). [Beilstein 19/7 V 237.] The reduced form, (±)-6,8-dimercaptooctanoic acid, [7516-48-5] M 208.3, is a light yellow liquid which is sold in sealed ampoules.