Cross-Linking of Dithiols by Mitomycin C

Upon reduction, the antitumor drug mitomycin C undergoes a cascade of reactions to give a bis-electrophile that alkylates cellular nucleophiles. We recently reported that dithiols activate mitomycin C by reduction, and we report here that dithiols, after executing the reductive activation of mitomycin C, are bis-alkylated by the activated drug to form S,S′-cross-links as the predominant end products. The diastereomeric pair of adducts formed by 1,3-propanedithiol has been fully characterized by UV, HRMS, CD, and NMR experiments. Racemic dithiol (±)-dithiothreitol gave four diastereomeric cross-links, and (±)-dihydrolipoic acid gave eight cross-links (two regioisomers with four diastereomers each) that were partially characterized by UV and MS. The observed dependence of cross-link formation on dithiol concentration indicated the requirement of a second reduction step by dithiol, prior to the alkylation of the second arm of the dithiol. The existence of unidentified reaction pathways was manifested by the formation of unexpected intermediates during the course of the reaction of mitomycin C with dithiols and by the formation of unsoluble mitosene derivatives in the reaction between equimolar amounts of dithiol and mitomycin C. Mechanistic details of the reaction are addressed in light of these results. Finally, we discuss the potential relevance of our findings for the interaction of mitomycin C with dithiol-containing proteins.