Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Selenium-Containing Isocombretastatins and Phenstatins as Antitumor Agents

Copper complexes and carbon nanotube–copper ferrite-catalyzed benzenoid A-ring selenation of quinones: an efficient method for the synthesis of trypanocidal agents

A-ring selenation of naphthoquinones and anthraquinones is reported. The reaction proceeds in the presence of a copper source, and provides an efficient and general method for preparing selenium-based quinones with trypanocidal activity.

Novel curcumin analogue hybrids: Synthesis and anticancer activity

In this study, twenty curcumin analogue hybrids as potential anticancer agents through regulation protein of TrxR were designed and synthesized. Results of anticancer activity showed that 5,7-dimethoxy-3-(3-(2-((1E, 4E)-3-oxo-5-(pyridin-2-yl)penta-1,4-dien-1- yl)phenoxy)propoxy)-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (compound 7d) could induce gastric cancer cells apoptosis by arresting cell cycle, break mitochondria function and inhibit TrxR activity. Meanwhile, western blot revealed that this compound could dramatically up expression of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and high expression of TrxR oxidation. These results preliminarily show that the important role of ROS mediated activation of ASK1/MAPK signaling pathways by this title compound.

Selenides and Diselenides: A Review of Their Anticancer and Chemopreventive Activity

Selenium and selenocompounds have attracted the attention and the efforts of scientists worldwide due to their promising potential applications in cancer prevention and/or treatment. Different organic selenocompounds, with diverse functional groups that contain selenium, have been reported to exhibit anticancer and/or chemopreventive activity. Among them, selenocyanates, selenoureas, selenoesters, selenium-containing heterocycles, selenium nanoparticles, selenides and diselenides have been considered in the search for efficiency in prevention and treatment of cancer and other related diseases. In this review, we focus our attention on the potential applications of selenides and diselenides in cancer prevention and treatment that have been reported so far. The around 80 selenides and diselenides selected herein as representative compounds include promising antioxidant, prooxidant, redox-modulating, chemopreventive, anticancer, cytotoxic and radioprotective compounds, among other activities. The aim of this work is to highlight the possibilities that these novel organic selenocompounds can offer in an effort to contribute to inspire medicinal chemists in their search of new promising derivatives.

Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative/Click Cascade Reaction: Regioselective Assembly of 5-Selenotriazole Anticancer Agents

A simple and efficient Cu-catalyzed decarboxylative/click reaction for the preparation of 1,4-disubstituted 5-arylselanyl-1,2,3-triazoles from propiolic acids, diselenides, and azides has been developed. The mechanistic study revealed that the intermolecular AAC reaction of an alkynyl selenium intermediate occurred. The resulting multisubstituted 5-seleno-1,2,3-triazoles were tested for in vitro anticancer activity by MTT assay, and compounds 4f, 4h, and 4p showed potent cancer cell-growth inhibition activities.

Convenient synthesis of selenyl-indoles via iodide ion-catalyzed electrochemical C–H selenation

Reported herein is a transition metal- and oxidant-free method for the synthesis of selenyl heteroarenes with diselenides through iodide ion-catalyzed electrolytic selenation.

Atom-economical selenation of electron-rich arenes and phosphonates with molecular oxygen at room temperature

An environmentally benign selenation of electron-rich arenes and phosphonates is developed adopting a novel recycle–reuse–reduce strategy for selenol by oxygen.

Rose Bengal catalysed photo-induced selenylation of indoles, imidazoles and arenes: a metal free approach

A photo-induced, metal-free strategy was used for the direct C(sp²)–H bond selenylation of indoles, imidazoles and arenes using Rose Bengal as a photocatalyst.