Metal-binding abilities of radioprotective aminoalkyl disulfides and thiosulfates.

Mental-binding stability constants for several heterocyclic aminoalkyl disulfides and thiosulfates with Ni(II) and Al(III) were determined. The data obtained indicated that both classes of compounds were acting as bidentate chelating agents and that the heterocyclic rings apparently prevented tridentate behavior of the disulfides because of steric hindrance. The magnitude of the constants indicated that metal complexes of these compounds could exist in a cellular environment, but no correlation with radiation-protective activity was apparent.