Formation of Thioxopyrrolidines and Dithiocarbamates from 4-Methylthio-3-butenyl Isothiocyanates, the Pungent Principle of Radish, in Aqueous Media

Reaction products of 4-methylthio-3-butenyl isothiocyanate (MTBI), the radish pungent principle, in aqueous media were identified and their antimicrobial activities were examined. A rapid degradation of MTBI in aqueous media afforded a mixture of 3-(hydroxy)methylene-2-thioxopyrrolidine (1), (Z)-3-(methylthio)-methylene-2-thioxopyrrolidine (2), its (E)-isomer (3), methyl 4-methylthiobutyldithiocarbamate (4), methyl (Z)-4-methylthio-3-butenyldithiocarbarnaie (5), and its (E)-isomer (6). The products 1, 2, and 3 were detected at all pHs examined, while 4, 5, and 6 were formed at pH over 6.0. The formation of 4 from 6 was accompanied by an oxidation of methanethiol released from MTBI in aqueous media. Antimicrobial activities of 2 and 3 against all microbes examined were much lower than that of 1, which had MICs ranging from 50 to 400 μg/ml. As for 4, 5, and 6, antifungal activities were comparable to that of 1, but little antibacterial activities were observed. The antimicrobial activities of the six produc...