Allicin and derivativesthereof inhibit the CAC1 cysteine proteases falcipain 2, rhodesain, cathepsin B and L in the low micromolar range. The structure–activity relationship revealed that only derivatives with primary carbon atom in vicinity to the thiosulfinate sulfur atom attacked by the active-site Cys residue are active against the target enzymes. Some compounds also show potent antiparasitic
Hetero Diels–Alder reactions of 3,4-di-tert-butylthiophene 1-oxide (1) with thioaldehydes and thioketones take place exclusively, except the reaction with thiobenzophenone, at the syn-π-face of 1 with respect to the SO bond. The π-face selectivity was explained in terms of the extent of conformational changes of 1 that are brought about in the process to the transition states.