ABSTRACT
Introduction........................................................................................................ 85 Chemistry and Results ....................................................................................... 91 Synthesis of Compounds I-4 (a-h) Comprising the First Group ................... 92 Synthesis of Compounds II-3 (a-e) Comprising the Second Group ............. 93 Synthesis of Compounds III-5 (a-b) Comprising the Third Group............... 94
Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 95 References .......................................................................................................... 96
Impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms are important features in the pathogenesis of various diseases including diabetes, cancer, and neurological disorders. Antioxidants are required to prevent cellular damage observed in many of these diseases. Impairment of these defense mechanisms may be due to increased oxidative stress. a-Lipoic acid (a-LA, thioctic acid, 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid) is a natural multifunctional antioxidant [1]. The two enantiomers of this substance are the S form and the R form (Figure 4.1); R-a-LA acid is a naturally occuring form. a-LA acts as a coenzyme in biological group transfer reactions [2-4]. Its main function is to increase production of glutathione, which eliminates toxic substances in the liver.
