Synthesis of new dithiolethione and methanethiosulfonate systems endowed with pharmaceutical interest

Here we report synthetic methodology affording in the most efficient way the rapid preparation of new dithiolethiones (DTTs) and methanethiosulfonates (MTSs). These were evaluated as STAT3 inhibitors since these electrophilic systems could react with thiol groups of STAT3-SH2 domain. The results showed that MTSs strongly interacted with the SH2 domain, whereas the corresponding DTTs possessed lower affinity, independently from the nature of the linked heterocyclic scaffold.