Dithioerythritol

Dithioerythritol
IUPAC name

(2S,3R)-1,4-Bis-sulfanylbutane-2,3-diol
Other names

(2R,3S)-1,4-dimercaptobutane-2,3-diol
2,3-Dihydroxybutane-1,4-dithiol
Erythro-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butanedithiol
Erythro-1,4-dimercapto-2,3-butanediol
Cleland's reagent (also used for DTT)
Identifiers
CAS number 6892-68-8 Y
PubChem 439352
ChemSpider 388475 Y
ChEBI CHEBI:17456 Y
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Image 2
Properties
Molecular formula C4H10O2S2
Molar mass 154.25 g mol−1
Melting point

82–84 °C
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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Dithioerythritol (DTE) is a sulfur containing sugar derived from the corresponding 4-carbon monosaccharide erythrose. It is an epimer of dithiothreitol (DTT). The molecular formula for DTE is C4H10O2S2.

Like DTT, DTE makes an excellent reducing agent, although its standard reduction potential is not quite as negative, i.e., DTE is slightly less effective at reducing than DTT, presumably because steric repulsion of its OH groups makes the cyclic disulfide-bonded form of DTE less stable compared to that of DTT. In DTT, these hydroxyl groups are trans to each other, whereas they are cis to in DTE.


References