mercaptoalkyl
Mercaptoalkyl is a term used in organic chemistry to describe an alkyl substituent that bears a thiol group (-SH). In such substituents, an alkyl chain carries a thiol terminus, providing a sulfur-based functional handle for further reactions. Common examples include 2-mercaptoethyl (HS-CH2-CH2-) and 3-mercaptopropyl (-CH2-CH2-CH2-SH) groups, which are attached to a parent molecule through the alkyl portion while presenting a thiol at the distal end.
Chemically, the thiol group is a nucleophile and a soft Lewis base. Thiols can coordinate to metal
Applications of mercaptoalkyl groups span several areas. They are widely used as linkers and functional handles
Overall, mercaptoalkyl compounds combine the reactivity of thiols with the versatility of alkyl frameworks, making them