Biologically oriented organic sulfur chemistry. 14. Antiinflammatory properties of some aryl sulfides, sulfoxides, and sulfones

Abstract

Sulfoxides were prepared of the general structure XArS(0)C6H4(CHR)nC02H, together with the sulfides and some of the sulfones. The products were evaluated as anti-inflammatory agents by carrageenan-edema inhibition and UV-erythema inhibition in rats. Four of the compounds had activity comparable to aspirin or phenylbutazone in 1 or the other of these assays. Sulfoxides did not seem promising as a class and usually were less active than the corresponding sulfides. The 2 most interesting compounds in these assays, o-(phenylthio)phenylacetic acid and its sulfoxide, had no significant activity in adjuvant arthritis. H bonding effects are indicated in certain of the acids by their absence in the corresponding esters.