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Background: We report the synthesis and antioxidant evaluation of 1-organoselanyl-naphthalen-2-ols. The title compounds were selectively prepared through the selenofunctionalization of 2-naphthol derivatives using benzeneseleninic acids as a selenium source. Objective: We aimed at synthesizing 1-organoselanyl-naphthalen-2-ol by functionalizing 2-naphthol with arylseleninic acids using glycerol as the solvent and further evaluating the pharmacological activity. Methods: The products were synthesized at 70 °C using glycerol as a solvent in an oil bath. Reactive species (RS) tests, DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity assay were performed. A statistical analysis of the data was performed. Results and Discussion: A total of fifteen 1-organoselanyl-naphthalen-2-ols were selectively obtained in yields of 58-95% in 0.25-48 h of reaction. Additionally, all the synthesized seleno-derivatives exhibited antioxidant activity, as revealed by their ability to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ radicals and reduce the reactive species (RS) levels. Conclusion: The synthesis of 1-arylselanyl-naphthalen-2-ols was developed under mild reaction conditions using benzeneseleninic acid derivatives in reactions with 2-naphthol. All synthesized 2-naphthol derivatives exhibited antioxidant activity, as revealed by their DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity and reduced RS levels.

A metal- and catalyst-free photo-promoted cyclization of properly substituted vinyl selenides was developed using UVA irradiation. A total of eighteen new C3-unsubstituted 2-selanyl benzochalcogenophenes (benzofurans, benzothiophenes and benzoselenophenes) were prepared in 30-86% yield after irradiation with UVA at room temperature. The usefulness of the title compounds was demonstrated in the easy functionalization of the remaining free C-H bond of the benzochalcogenophenes to form new C-Se and C-Br bonds by simple procedures. Furthermore, the reaction can be performed under natural sunlight irradiation and the solvent is easily reused further in several subsequent runs.

We describe here the synthesis of enantiomerically pure chalcogenoethers obtained through the reaction of nucleophilic species of chalcogen (S, Se and Te), generated in situ from the respective diorganyl dichalcogenides, with (R)- and (S)-tosyl solketal. Furthermore, some of the chalcogenoethers were treated with acidic cation exchange resin Dowex-(H+) leading to the respective deprotected enantiomerically pure 3-phenylchalcogenyl-1,2-diols. In order to explore the biological potential of these molecules, the antioxidant activity of some organochalcogens was evaluated by several in vitro assays. Overall, the chalcogenoethers containing Te were better scavengers of DPPH and ABTS·+ radicals, had higher ferric reducing capacity and prevented lipid peroxidation. To analyze the effects of these compounds in vivo, we used the alternative model Caenorhabditis elegans. Chalcogenoethers treatment, especially (S)- and (R)-2,2-dimethyl-4-(phenylselanylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolane, conferred protection against the mortality-induced by hydrogen peroxide. Accordingly, these chalcogenoethers were able to modulate the antioxidant enzyme catalase. Notably, the compounds did not present toxicity in worm’s reproduction. To sum up, our study demonstrated that Te- containing chalcogenoethers were promising in vitro scavengers, while Se molecules were more prone to protect against a stressor in vivo. In this sense, the antioxidant activity of chalcogenoethers, especially with Se and Te, indicates that these molecules may have biological application in an attempt to reduce the oxidative stress. Keywords: Organochalcogen, Chiral, Chalcogenoethers, PEG-400, Antioxidant, Caenorhabditis elegans

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 4‑organoselanyl-1H-pyrazoles has been developed, taking place under metal- and halogen-free conditions. Electrophilic species of selenium were easily generated in situ by the reaction of diorganyl diselenides with Oxone® in ethanol as solvent in an open-flask at 70 °C. These electrophilic selenium species were employed in the selenylation/cyclization of α,β-alkynyl hydrazones, giving the title compounds in moderate to excellent yields. The final species of selenium obtained from the reaction of diphenyl diselenide with Oxone® were characterized by 77Se NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).

In this contribution, a metal- and base-free protocol has been developed for the synthesis of phosphorochalcogenoates (Se and Te) by using DMSO as solvent at 50 °C. A variety of phosphorochalcogenoates were prepared from diorganyl dichalcogenides and H-phosphonates, leading to the formation of a Chal-P(O) bond, in a rapid procedure with good to excellent yields. A full structural elucidation of products was accessed by 1D and 2D NMR, IR, CGMS, and HRMS analyses, and a stability evaluation of the phosphorochalcogenoates was performed for an effective operational description of this simple and feasible method. Typical 77Se{1H} (δSe = 866.0 ppm), 125Te{1H} (δTe = 422.0 ppm) and 31P{1H} (δP = −1.0, −13.0 and −15.0 ppm) NMR chemical shifts were imperative to confirm the byproducts, in which this stability study was also important to select some products for pharmacological screening. The phosphorochalcogenoates were screened in vitro and ex vivo tests for the antioxidant potential and free radical scavenging activity, as well as to investigation toxicity in mice through of the plasma levels of markers of renal and hepatic damage. The pharmacological screening of phosphorochalcogenoates indicated that compounds have antioxidant propriety in different assays and not changes plasma levels of markers of renal and hepatic damage, with excision of 3g compound that increased plasma creatinine levels and decreased plasma urea levels when compared to control group in the blood mice. Thus, these compounds can be promising synthetic antioxidants that provide protection against oxidative diseases.

The increased prevalence of metronidazole-resistant infections has resulted in a search for alternative drugs for the treatment of trichomoniasis. In the present study, we report the preparation and in vitro activity of three 1,3-dioxolanes that contain tellurium (PTeDOX 01, PTeDOX 02, and PTeDOX 03) against Trichomonas vaginalis. Six concentrations of these compounds were analyzed for in vitro activity against ATCC 30236 isolate of T. vaginalis. PTeDOX 01 reported a cytotoxic effect against 100% of T. vaginalis trophozoites at a final concentration of 90μM with an IC50 of 60μM. The kinetic growth curve of trophozoites indicated that PTeDOX 01 reduced the growth by 22% at a concentration of 90μM after an exposure of 12h, and induced complete parasite death at 24h. It induced cytotoxicity of 44% at 90μM concentration but and had no effect in lower concentrations in a culture of CHO-K1 cells. These results confirmed that PTeDOX 01 is an important drug for the treatment of T. vaginalis, and should be evaluated in other infectious agents as well.

PEG-400 was used as a green and recyclable solvent in an efficient, simple and straightforward method for the synthesis of β-arylthio-α,β-unsaturated esters, ketone and aldehyde through the hydrothiolation of alkynes with arylthiols under base- and catalyst-free conditions. The reactions were performed under mild conditions and furnished selectively the respective ( Z )-β-arylthio-α,β-unsaturated compounds from alkynyl esters and ketone, while from alkynyl aldehyde, the ( E )-stereoisomer was obtained, in good yields and moderate reaction times. PEG-400 was reused in up 5 successive reactions without previous treatment, affording products in comparable yields.

A green methodology to synthesize 2-organoselanyl-naphthalenes based on the reaction of alkynols with diaryl diselenides is described. The electrophilic species of selenium were generated in situ, by the oxidative cleavage of the Se–Se bond of diaryl diselenides by Oxone® using water as the solvent. The reactions proceeded efficiently under ultrasonic irradiation as an alternative energy source, using a range of alkynols and diorganyl diselenides as starting materials. Through this methodology, the corresponding 2-organoselanyl-naphthalenes were obtained in moderate to good yields (56–94%) and in short reaction times (0.25–2.3 h).

We describe here a simple method for the synthesis of glycerol derivatives containing an organochalcogen unit (Se, Te and S) using NaBH4 and PEG-400 as a solvent. The new methodology was used to synthesize a range of new organochalcogen compounds in good yields. Furthermore, four of synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using different assays, such as 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, nitric oxide (NO) and hydroxyl radical (OH) scavenging, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ferrous ion chelating, superoxide dismutase-like activity and inhibition of linoleic acid lipid peroxidation. The new organotellurium 2,2-dimethyl-4-(phenyltellanylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolane 3j showed antioxidant activity and was more effective in inhibition of induced lipid peroxidation compared to solketal 4. Selenium and sulfur analogs 3a and 3m and solketal 4 did not present antioxidant effect. These findings suggest that 2,2-dimethyl-4-(phenyltellanylmethyl)-1,3-dioxolane 3j is a promising antioxidant and that its activity is influenced by the presence of the tellurium atom on the structure.

We describe here a metal-free and selective method for the synthesis of (E)-1-bromo-1-seleno alkenes and ketene selenoacetals by a stoichiometric and temperature-controlled reaction. These protocols employ a diverse array of 1,1-dibromoalkenes and different diaryl diselenides to afford the corresponding products in good yields and in a short reaction time.

We describe herein an efficient and simple method for the stereoselective hydrodebromination of 1,1-dibromoalkenes by using a catalytic amount of the nucleophilic species of tellurium, generated in situ by the reaction of elemental tellurium with NaBH4. By this methodology, (E)-bromoalkenes were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions, without the use of transition metals or base. Furthermore, a high stereoselectivity for the (E)-isomer was observed when 1,1-dibromoarylalkenes were used, thus indicating a promising alternative for future applications in organic synthesis.