Cysteine-activated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) delivery through caged carbonyl sulfide (COS) donor motifs

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an important biomolecule, and controllable H2S donors are needed to investigate H2S biological functions. Here we utilize cysteine-mediated addition/cyclization chemistry to unmask an acrylate-functionalized thiocarbamate and release carbonyl sulfide (COS), which is quickly converted to H2S by carbonic anhydrase (CA).