Organoselenium Compounds in Medicinal Chemistry

• Published in: ChemMedChem Vol. 19; no. 17; pp. e202400063 - n/a
• Main Authors: Gallo‐Rodriguez, Carola, Rodriguez, Juan B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 02.09.2024
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Atomic properties; Atomic structure; Bioavailability; Carbohydrates; Cell membranes; Chemical compounds; Chemical reactions; Chemistry; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; chemotherapy; Detoxification; Drugs; ebselen; Humans; medicinal chemistry; Molecular Structure; Organoselenium compounds; Organoselenium Compounds - chemistry; Organoselenium Compounds - pharmacology; Oxygen; Oxygen atoms; Pharmaceutical sciences; Reactive oxygen species; Redox properties; Selenium; Selenium compounds; selenium-containing probes; Selenocysteine; Selenoproteins; Sulfur; Toxins; Trace elements; organoselenium compounds; ebselen; chemotherapy; medicinal chemistry; selenium-containing probes
• ISSN: 1860-7179; 1860-7187; 1860-7187
• DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400063

The chemical and biological interest in this element and the molecules bearing selenium has been exponentially growing over the years. Selenium, formerly designated as a toxin, becomes a vital trace element for life that appears as selenocysteine and its dimeric form, selenocystine, in the active sites of selenoproteins, which catalyze a wide variety of reactions, including the detoxification of reactive oxygen species and modulation of redox activities. From the point of view of drug developments, organoselenium drugs are isosteres of sulfur‐containing and oxygen‐containing drugs 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. This statement is the paramount relevance considering the big number of clinically employed compounds bearing sulfur or oxygen atoms in their structures including nucleosides and carbohydrates. Thus, in this article we have focused on the relevant features of the application of selenium in medicinal chemistry. With the increasing interest in selenium chemistry, we have attempted to highlight the most significant published data on this subject, mainly concentrating the analysis on the last years. In consequence, the recent advances of relevant pharmacological organoselenium compounds are discussed. Selenium is an essential trace element for life that appears as selenocysteine and its dimer in the active sites of selenoproteins. From the medicinal chemistry perspective, organoselenium drugs are isosteres of sulfur‐ and oxygen‐containing drugs with better antioxidant properties and higher lipophilicity. The recent advances of relevant pharmacological organoselenium compounds are discussed.