Chapter 3: Synthesis of Organoselenium Compounds with Potential Biological Activities

Organoselenium chemistry provides important tools for synthetic and medicinal chemistry. Organoselenium reagents have been used to prepare selenium-containing cyclic and acyclic compounds under very mild reaction conditions. The role of organoselenium compounds in medicinal chemistry started with the discovery of selenocysteine in various mammalian enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, iodothyroninedeiodinase and thioredoxinreductase. The utility of small organoselenium compounds for the treatment of oxidative stress is well explored. In the past decade, organoselenium compounds with other biological activities have been reported, some of them showing promising antithyroid, anticancer, anti-Alzheimer's disease, antiviral, antidepressant and antidiabetic activities. This chapter highlights recent developments in the synthesis and biological activities of organoselenium compounds.