Spectroscopic study of N-acetylcysteine and N-acetylcystine/hydrogen peroxide complexation Original Research Article

A spectroscopic study of N-acetylcysteine (RSH) and N-acetylcystine (RSSR) has been performed using infrared absorption and Raman scattering in order to pinpoint the sites of complexation of these two species with H2O2. Molecules of RSH and RSSR were studied in KBr pellets, and in aqueous solutions of H2O, D2O and H2O with H2O2 (1 mol l−1) to characterize the specific influence of the solvent molecules. A time-resolved Raman study was performed for RSH-H2O2 in aqueous solution at 1:1 molar ratio in order to observe the formation of RSSR and to discuss the mechanism of this redox reaction.