Organoselenium Compounds: Chemistry and Applications in Organic Synthesis

Selenium, originally described as a toxin, turns out to be a crucial trace element for life that appears as selenocysteine and its dimer, selenocystine. From the point of view of drug developments, selenium-containing drugs are isosteres of sulfur and oxygen with the advantage that the presence of the selenium atom confers antioxidant properties and high lipophilicity, which would increase cell membrane permeation leading to better oral bioavailability. In this article, we have focused on the relevant features of the selenium atom, above all, the corresponding synthetic approaches to access a variety of organoselenium molecules along with the proposed reaction mechanisms. The preparation and biological properties of selenosugars, including selenoglycosides, selenonucleosides, selenopeptides, and other selenium-containing compounds will be treated. We have attempted to condense the most important aspects and interesting examples of the chemistry of selenium into a single article.

Copper-Mediated Intramolecular Interrupted CuAAC Selanylation

We, herein, describe a copper-mediated domino CuAAC intramolecular selanylation for the synthesis of unprecedented fused benzo[4,5][1,3]selenazolo[3,2-c][1,2,3]triazoles from 1,2-bis(2-azidoaryl)diselenides and terminal alkynes under microwave irradiation. This is the seminal method for the synthesis of these fused heterocycles, and it proceeds under mild conditions, tolerates several functional groups, and can be carried out using environmentally benign solvents such as dimethyl carbonate. This transformation has been successfully extended to TMS-protected alkynes and to bioactive alkynes. A plausible reaction mechanism is proposed based on several control experiments and previous reports.

Selectfluor-mediated construction of 3-arylselenenyl and 3,4-bisarylselenenyl spiro[4.5]trienones via cascade annulation of N-phenylpropiolamides with diselenides

A cascade annulation of N-phenylpropiolamides with diselenides leading to the construction of 3-arylselenenyl spiro[4.5]trienones was realized under mild conditions with Selectfluor as the sole oxidant.

A recent overview on the synthesis of 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles

Diverse strategies for the efficient and attractive synthesis of a wide variety of relevant 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazole molecules are reported. The synthesis of this category of diverse fully functionalized 1,2,3-triazoles has become a necessary and unique research subject in modern synthetic organic key transformations in academia, pharmacy, and industry. The current review aims to cover a wide literature survey of numerous synthetic strategies. Recent reports (2017–2021) in the field of 1,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles are emphasized in this current review.

Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Cycloaddition of Propiolic Acids, Azides, and Arylboronic Acids: Construction of Fully Substituted 1,2,3-Triazoles

A copper-catalyzed decarboxylative cycloaddition of propiolic acids, azides, and arylboronic acids is described. The present reaction provides an efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of various fully substituted 1,2,3-triazoles from readily available starting materials. A possible mechanism is proposed.

Regioselective Synthesis of Diverse Thio-, Seleno-substituted 1,2,3-Triazoles

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Thio-, seleno-substituted triazoles are useful scaffolds employed in the fields of organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and material science. A number of synthetic approaches to efficient formation of thio- and seleno-triazoles have been disclosed, including the interception of copper(I) triazolides generated in-situ, cycloaddition of internal alkynes (thio-, halo-, and metalated alkynes) to azides, and the coupling of azides and nonalkyne substrates. This mini-review intends to summarize the synthetic methods toward thio-, seleno-1,2,3-triazoles and the relative reaction mechanisms.

A facile synthesis of diverse 5-arylated triazoles via a Cu-catalyzed oxidative interrupted click reaction with arylboronic acids in air

A Cu-catalyzed synthesis of 5-arylsubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via an oxidative interrupted click reaction with arylboronic acids in air at room temperature is disclosed.