Titrimetric determination of thiols: Tetrathionate, iron(III), cystine and hexacyanoferrate(III) as thiol reagents

Four analytical reagents, tetrathionate, iron(III), cystine and hexacyanoferrate(III) have been tested with respect to their specificity for oxidation of thiols to disulphides. Of a number of thiols studied, most have a strong tendency to oxidize beyond the disulphide stage with several of the commonly employed reagents. Tetrathionate, cystine and hexacyanoferrate(III) function in phosphate buffer of pH 7, but iron(III) does not require rigid control of pH, although the solution should be only feebly acidic. The reagents were used in excess and the thiosulphate or cysteine formed in the reaction of thiols with tetrathionate or cystine respectively was determined. The residual iron(III) was measured by adding ascorbic acid or mercaptoacetic acid and titrating with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol or iodine monochloride respectively; surplus hexacyanoferrate(III) was back-titrated with ascorbic acid. All four reagents react selectively with thiols even in the presence of several possible interfering substances and afford results that are accurate and precise.