2,2-Dimethylthiopropionamide is used as a reagent to synthesize Dabrafenib, an inhibitor of BRAF kinase that is used to treat BRAF V600-mutation positive carcinoma. BRAF is a gene that mediates cell growth and is activated by mutations caused by cancer. 2,2-Dimethylthiopropionamide is also used as a reagent to prepare sulfonyl-substituted 4,5-diarylthiazoles, compounds that act as cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (anti-inflammatory agents).
To a round bottom flask (250 mL) was added trimethyl amine (5.0 g, 0.049 mol) and Lawesson's reagent (8.0g, 0.020 mol), dissolved in THF (100 mL), nitrogen, 80° C oil. The reaction bath for 4 hours. TLC monitors the reaction progress. After completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by rotary evaporation; the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (petroleum ether: 1: ethyl acetate = 10) to give a white solid 2,2-Dimethylthiopropionamide (3.7 g, 65percent yield).
