Thiosuccinic acid derivatives and the use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) wherein Xand Xindependently represent O, NH or S, Rand Rare independently selected from the group consisting of a C-Chydrocarbyl group, an amino acid bonded via an amide bond or a peptide bonded via an amide bond each having up to 200 amino acids, the conjugated residue Xor Xin this case being NH, and hydrogen, both radicals Rand Rpreferably not being H, wherein Ris a residue selected from group consisting of —S—R, wherein Ris a C-Chydrocarbyl group, at least one of Rand Rnot being H when Xand Xare oxygen, —S—CH—CH(NH)(COOH) (cysteine-S-yl), a homologue or derivative (e.g. N-acetyl cysteine-S-yl) thereof, a peptide having up to 200 amino acids which contains at least one amino acid radical with a thiol group, preferably a cysteine radical, and is bonded via the thio sulfur, preferably via the cysteine sulfur (peptide-S-yl), coenzyme A which is bonded via a thiol group or fragments thereof, acyl carrier protein bonded via a thiol group, and dihydrolipoic acid bonded via a thiol group, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of these compounds for preparing a drug and drugs containing the same.