Lipoic acid trisulfide, a sulfane sulfur-containing trisulfide of α-lipoic acid, holds promise in pharmaceuticals, yet knowledge gaps persist regarding its synthesis, properties, and stability. Here, we synthesized the lipoic acid trisulfide with a purity exceeding 99% from α-lipoic acid on a gram scale and obtained novel β-cyclodextrin clathrates (84%-95% yield). Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed the inclusion of lipoic acid trisulfide in β-cyclodextrins. The resulting β-cyclodextrin clathrates exhibited significant improvements in water solubility and thermal stability. This pioneering study demonstrated a novel approach to the practical preparation of trisulfide and its β-cyclodextrin clathrates as active ingredients, paving the way for clinical development.
Keywords: lipoic acid trisulfide; sulfane sulfur-containing trisulfide; β-cyclodextrin clathrates.
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.