persulfany

Persulfany, also written persulfanyl, is a chemical term used for the persulfanyl substituent, -SSH. In organic molecules the group is attached to a carbon via the first sulfur, giving R-S-SH, a persulfide. The term appears in various languages and in older literature; IUPAC recommends persulfanyl as the preferred name for the substituent, with persulfany as a variant.

Persulfanyl groups are part of persulfides, R-S-S-H. They feature a sulfur–sulfur bond and are generally more reactive than simple thiols, due to the extra sulfur atom. The S–S bond can be attacked by nucleophiles or oxidized, leading to disulfides (R-S-S-R) or higher polysulfides. They can serve as sulfur-transfer donors in certain reactions.

Preparation and applications: Persulfanyl groups can be introduced by sulfur-transfer to thiols from sulfur-transfer reagents or by oxidative routes that convert thiols into persulfides. They are encountered in organic synthesis and in biological contexts, where persulfidation describes the modification of protein thiols to persulfides, a process linked to redox signaling and regulation.

Related terms and concepts include persulfide (the class of compounds R-S-S-H) and polysulfides, as well as the broader chemistry of thiols and disulfides.