Synthesis of sulfur containing dihydro-pyrrolo derivatives and their biological evaluation as antioxidants.

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to N-phenylmaleimide of azomethine ylides, generated in situ from sulfanyl-substituted imines of glycine esters, yields 5H-dihydro-pyrrolo products with syn diastereoselectivity. The syn (major) and anti (minor) products were isolated chromatographically and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and in two cases also by X-ray analysis. The diastereomeric cycloadducts were tested for their antioxidant activity with good results.