α-Substitution effects on the ease of S→N-acyl transfer in aminothioesters

In S-acylcysteines and homocysteines, the efficacy and rate of S→N-acyl transfer (5 and 6 cyclic TSs) vary with the size of S-acyl group. Conformational and quantum chemical calculations indicate that the spatial distance, b(N-C), between the terminal amine and the thioester carbon is shortened by α-C(O)X (X = OH, OMe, NH2 ) substituents.