N-Acetyl homocysteine thiolactone (NAHT), medically known as citiolone, can be used as a mucolytic agent and for the treatment of certain hepatic disorders. We have studied the kinetics and mechanisms of its oxidation by acidic bromate and aqueous bromine. In acidic bromate conditions the reaction is characterized by a very short induction period followed by a sudden and rapid formation of bromine and N-acetyl homocysteine sulfonic acid. The stoichiometry of the bromate NAHT reaction was deduced to be: BrO3- + H2O + CH3CONHCHCH2CH2SCO -> CH3CONHCHCH2CH2(SO3H)COOH + Br- (S1) while in excess bromate it was deduced to be: 6BrO(3)(-) + 5CH(3)CONHCHCH(2)CH(2)SCO + 6H(+) > 3Br(2) + 5CH(3)CONHCHCH(2)CH(2)(SO3H)COOH + 2H(2)O (S2). For the reaction of NAHT with bromine, a 3:1 stoichiometric ratio of bromine to NAHT was obtained: 3Br(2) + CH3CONHCHCH2CH2SCO + 4H(2)O -> 6Br(-) + CH3CONHCHCH2CH2(SO3H)COOH + 6H(+) (S3). Oxidation occurred only on the sulfur center where it was oxidized to the sulfonic acid. No sulfate formation was observed. The mechanism involved an initial oxidation to a relatively stable sulfoxide without ring-opening. Further oxidation of the sulfoxide involved two pathways: one which involved intermediate formation of an unstable sulfone and the other involves ring-opening coupled with oxidation through to the sulfonic acid. There was oligooscillatory production of aqueous bromine. Bromide produced in SI reacts with excess bromate to produce aqueous bromine. The special stability associated with the sulfoxide allowed it to coexist with aqueous bromine since its further oxidation to the sulfone was not as facile. The direct reaction of aqueous bromine with NAHT was fast with an estimated lower limit bimolecular rate constant of 2.94 +/- 0.03 X 10(2) M-1 s(-1).