Amino acid-based H₂S donors: <i>N</i>-thiocarboxyanhydrides that release H₂S with innocuous byproducts

Abstract

A library of N-thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs) derived from natural amino acids with benign byproducts and controlled H2S-release kinetics is reported. Minimal acute in vitro toxicity was observed in multiple cell lines, while longer-term toxicity in cancer cells was observed, with slow-releasing donors exhibiting the greatest cytotoxic effects.