Unsymmetrical organic disulfide compounds useful as antiradiation agents

Unsymmetrical organic disulfide sulfinate compounds, useful as an antiradiation agents, having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein A is one or of the following polar groups, OH, COOH, SO.sub.3 Na, --C(O)--, or derivatives such as esters and nonamino nitrogen derivatives such as amides or nitriles; k is an integer of one to eight; Y is a straight or substituted aliphatic chain haivng from two to eight carbon atoms which may have one or more S--S groups interposed therebetween; m signifies the number of carbon atoms in an aliphatic chain Y containing 2 to 8 carbon stoms which may have S--S interposed; aliphatic chain Y, substituted with one or more polar groups of the number k is attached to one of the two sulfur atoms shown. The second sulfur atom is attached through an aliphatic chain of 2 to 5 carbon atoms to the sulfinate function SO.sub.2 M wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be hydrogen, aryl, cycloalkyl or various polar groups such as OH, COOH, SO.sub.3 Na, --C(O)--, or derivatives such as esters and nonamino derivatives such as amides or nitriles. The system ##STR2## also may comprise an aromatic ring; n may be the integers 2 through 6; M of the sulfinate function is hydrogen, a metallic element selected from group 1 A of the Periodic Table such as Li, Na, or K, or the equivalent R.sub.4 N+; or an organic group such as a straight or substituted aliphatic chain having up to 4 carbon atoms, designed to promote stability. The synthesis of the compounds occurs by subjecting 1,1-dioxides of cyclic disulfidesto the action of a thiolate ion, whereby cleavage is effected between the sulfur and sulfonyl units.