A STUDY OF THE ACID-BASE TRANSFORMATIONS OF OXODIHYDROTHIOCHROME

The acid-base properties of oxodihydrothiochrome — the product of the redox disproportionation of the vitamin B1 catabolite thiochrome (pH=10.7, 4.5, and 0.5) — have been studied in the pH interval of 0–12 by PMR spectroscopy. It has been established that in acid medium (pH 0–1) the formation of a doubly charged ion is accompanied by a further structural transformation of the molecule of (I) with the formation of a vitamin B1 analogue — oxothiamine (II). A possible mechanism of the action of (I) as an inhibitor of thiamine-dependent enzymes is discussed in the light of the results obtained. Details of the PMR spectra of (I) and (II) are given.