Transition-metal free synthesis of diaryl vinyl selenides: a simple synthetic approach with high selectivity

Recent Progress in Synthetic and Biological Application of Diorganyl Diselenides

Diorganyl diselenides have emerged as privileged structures because they are easy to prepare, have distinct reactivity, and have broad biological activity. They have also been used in the synthesis of natural products as an electrophile in the organoselenylation of aromatic systems and peptides, reductions of alkenes, and nucleophilic substitution. This review summarizes the advancements in methods for the transformations promoted by diorganyl diselenides in the main functions of organic chemistry. Parallel, it will also describe the main findings on pharmacology and toxicology of diorganyl diselenides, emphasizing anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, chemotherapeutic, and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, an examination detailing the reactivity and biological characteristics of diorganyl diselenides provides valuable insights for academic researchers and industrial professionals.

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.

Synthesis of Selenoflavones via Ruthenium-Catalyzed Selenylation of Unsaturated Acids

An efficient method for pharmaceutically useful selenoflavones via a ruthenium-catalyzed selenylation reaction is demonstrated. The ruthenium-catalyzed selenylation was applied to synthesize diverse alkenyl selenides from simple unsaturated acids/amides and diaryl diselenides. A wide range of differently substituted diaryl diselenides can be applied in this protocol with a good functional group with excellent stereo- and regioselectivity.

(Z,Z)-Selanediylbis(2-propenamides): Novel Class of Organoselenium Compounds with High Glutathione Peroxidase-Like Activity. Regio- and Stereoselective Reaction of Sodium Selenide with 3-Trimethylsilyl-2-propynamides

The efficient regio- and stereoselective synthesis of (Z,Z)-3,3'-selanediylbis(2-propenamides) in 76-93% yields was developed based on the reaction of sodium selenide with 3-trimethylsilyl-2-propynamides. (Z,Z)-3,3'-Selanediylbis(2-propenamides) are a novel class of organoselenium compounds. To date, not a single representative of 3,3'-selanediylbis(2-propenamides) has been described in the literature. Studying glutathione peroxidase-like properties by a model reaction showed that the activity of the obtained products significantly varies depending on the organic moieties in the amide group. Divinyl selenide, which contains two lipophilic cyclohexyl substituents in the amide group, exhibits very high glutathione peroxidase-like activity and this compound is considerably superior to other products in this respect.

Stereoselective synthesis of alkyl styryl selenides in one-pot: a straightforward approach by in situ dialkyl diselenide formation under transition metal-free conditions

One-pot synthesis of alkyl styryl selenides using KSeCN as selenium source.