Effect of pH on the reaction of 1,3-dihydro-1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1,2-benziodoxole with 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-mercaptoethylamine, and glutathione

The kinetics of the oxidation of 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-mercaptoethylamine, and glutathione with 1,3-dihydro-1-hydroxy-3-oxo-1,2-benziodoxole (1) have been examined at pH 4–5.6. The reaction is second-order, which can be explained by a rate-determining step involving the reaction of one molecule of the thiol with one molecule of 1. The second-order rate constants vary in a linear manner with the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion activity. The ionic species involved in the reaction are discussed.