Synthesis of azido arylselenides and azido aryldiselenides: a new class of selenium–nitrogen compounds

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.

Bis-triazolylchalcogenium-Functionalized Benzothiadiazole Derivatives as Light-up Sensors for DNA and BSA

A range of bis-triazolylchalcogenium-BTD 3 was synthesized by a copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition of azido arylchalcogenides 1 and 4,7-diethynylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole 2. Eight new compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields using 1 mol % of copper(II) acetate monohydrate under mild reaction conditions. In addition, the synthesized bis-triazolylchalcogenium-BTD 3a-3h were investigated regarding their photophysical, electrochemical, and biomolecule binding properties in solution. In general, compounds presented strong absorption bands at the 250-450 nm region and cyan to green emission properties. The redox process attributed to the chalcogen atom was observed by electrochemical analysis (CV techniques). In addition, spectroscopic studies by UV-vis, steady-state emission fluorescence, and molecular docking calculations evidenced the ability of each derivative to establish interactions with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The behavior presented for this new class of compounds makes them a promising tool as optical sensors for biomolecules.

Bis(2-nitrophenyl) selenide, bis(2-aminophenyl) selenide and bis(2-aminophenyl) telluride: structural and theoretical analysis

Three organoselenium and organotellurium compounds containing ortho substitutents, namely, bis(2-nitrophenyl) selenide, C₁₂H₈N₂O₄Se, 2, bis(2-aminophenyl) selenide, C₁₂H₁₂N₂Se, 3, and bis(2-aminophenyl) telluride, C₁₂H₁₂N₂Te, 7, have been investigated by both structural and theoretical methods. In the structures of all three compounds, there are intramolecular contacts between both Se and Te with the ortho substituents. In the case of 2, this is achieved by rotation of the nitro group from the arene plane. For 3, both amino groups exhibit pyramidal geometry and are involved in intramolecular N-H...Se interactions, with one also participating in intermolecular N-H...N hydrogen bonding. While 3 and 7 are structurally similar, there are some significant differences. In addition to both intramolecular N-H...Te interactions and intermolecular N-H...N hydrogen bonding, 7 also exhibits intramolecular N-H...N hydrogen bonding. In the packing of these molecules, for 2, there are weak intermolecular C-H...O contacts and these, along with the O...N interactions mentioned above, link the molecules into a three-dimensional array. For 3, in addition to the N-H...N and N-H...Se interactions, there are also weak intermolecular C-H...Se interactions, which also link the molecules into a three-dimensional array. On the other hand, 7 shows intermolecular N-H...N interactions linking the molecules into R₂²(16) centrosymmetric dimers. In the theoretical studies, for compound 2, AIM (atoms in molecules) analysis revealed critical points in the Se...O interactions with values of 0.017 and 0.026 a.u. These values are suggestive of weak interactions present between Se and O atoms. For 3 and 7, the molecular structures displayed intramolecular, as well as intermolecular, hydrogen-bond interactions of the N-H...N type. The strength of this hydrogen-bond interaction was calculated by AIM analysis. Here, the intermolecular (N-H...N) hydrogen bond is stronger than the intramolecular hydrogen bond. This was confirmed by the electron densities for 3 and 7 [ρ_(r) = 0.015 and 0.011, respectively].

Semisynthesis of Selenoauraptene

Selenium-containing compounds are gaining more and more interest due to their valuable and promising pharmacological properties, mainly as anticancer and antioxidant agents. Ebselen, the up to now only approved drugs, is well known to possess very good glutathione peroxidase mimicking effects. To date, the most of efforts have been directed to build pure synthetic Se containing molecules, while less attention have been devoted to Se-based semisynthetic products resembling natural compounds like terpenes, polyphenols, and alkaloids. The aim of this short communication is to report the synthesis of the first example of a Se-phenylpropanoids, namely selenoauraptene, containing a selenogeranyl side chain in position 7 of the umbelliferone core. The key step was the Newman-Kwart rearrangement to obtain a selenocarbamate in which the Se atom was directly attached to umbelliferone (replacing its 7-OH function) followed by hydrolysis to get diumbelliferyl diselenide, which was finally easily converted to the desired Se-geranyl derivative in quite a good overall yield (28.5%). The synthesized adduct displayed a greater antioxidant and a radical scavenger in vitro activity than parent auraptene. The procedure we describe herein, to the best of our knowledge for the first time in the literature, represents an easy-to-handle method for the synthesis of a wide array of seleno analogues of naturally occurring biologically active oxyprenylated secondary metabolites.

Ni(II) complexes with thioether-functionalized silylamide ligands. Synthesis and crystal structures of [Ni{Me2Si(N-C6H4-2-S-t-Bu)2}], [Ni{Ph2Si(N-C6H4-2-SMe)2}] and [Ni{Ph2Si(N-C6H4-2-SPh)2}]

Thioether-functionalized aminosilanes R2Si(NH-C6H4-2-SR′)2 with R=Me, Ph and R′=t-Bu, Me, Ph were synthesized from the corresponding dichlorosilanes R2SiCl2 and lithiated aniline derivatives LiNH-C6H4-2-SR′. Treatment of the functionalized aminosilanes R2Si(NH-C6H4-2-SR′)2 with two eq. of n-BuLi and subsequent reaction with nickel(II) halides NiX2 (X=Cl, Br) or [Ni(acac)2(TMEDA)] led to the formation of the Ni(II) complexes [Ni{R2Si(N-C6H4-2-SR′)2}]. The X-ray single-crystal structure determinations of the nickel complexes revealed that the thioether-functionalized silylamides R2Si(NC6H4-2-SR′)2 2− act as tetradentate ligands. The nickel atoms exhibit a distorted square-planar coordination with Ni–N and Ni–S bond lengths in the range of 186.4(3)–186.9(2) pm and 217.5(1)–221.5(1) pm, respectively.

Copper Catalysis and Organocatalysis Showing the Way: Synthesis of Selenium-Containing Highly Functionalized 1,2,3-Triazoles

This article provides a comprehensive overview of reported methods - particularly copper- and organocatalyzed reactions - for the regioselective syntheses of selenium-containing 1,2,3-triazoles systems. These chemical entities are prevalent cores in biologically active compounds and functional materials. In view of their unique properties, substantial efforts have been paid for the design and development of practical approaches for the synthesis of these scaffolds.

An experimental and computational comparison of phosphorus- and selenium-based ligands for catalysis

To compare and contrast the bonding and reactivity of organoselenium ligands with organophosphines in coordination complexes, a new palladium(II) complex of the Se,N-chelating ligand o-(NH2)(X)C6H4 (X = SePh, 2) was prepared. Its characterization by NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory calculations is contrasted with the PdII complex of the related P,N- chelating ligand (X = PPh2, 1). These techniques indicate that the phenylseleno moiety is a weaker σ donor to the PdCl2 fragment than the diphenylphosphino group. Both complexes were suitable to catalyze the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of p-tolylboronic acid and 4-bromobenzaldehyde.

Selectivity and activity in catalytic hydrogenation of azido groups over Pd nanoparticles on aluminum oxy-hydroxide

A practical and effective catalytic method has been developed for the reduction of aryl azides in the presence of PdAlO(OH) nanoparticles and sodium borohydride.

Conversion of phenols into selenophenols: seleno Newman-Kwart rearrangement

A 'Se'lling point: The first thermally induced OAr →SeAr migration reaction is reported, and it can be used to prepare aryl selenols in three steps from the corresponding phenols. O-aryl selenocarbamates rearrange to Se-aryl carbamates via a four-membered transition state. The aryl selenols (isolated as the diselenides) can be prepared by hydrolysis of the Se-aryl selenocarbamates.