Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2025
![Solid-phase Synthesis of [4.4] Spirocyclic Oximes](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F58508.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Solid-phase Synthesis of [4.4] Spirocyclic Oximes
Published on: February 6, 2019
Organoselenium Compounds in Medicinal Chemistry.
Carola Gallo-Rodriguez1,2, Juan B Rodriguez1,3,2
1Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Selenium, once a toxin, is now recognized as a vital trace element in medicine. Organoselenium compounds offer enhanced antioxidant and bioavailability properties for drug development.
Area of Science:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Selenium's role has shifted from toxin to essential trace element.
- It is incorporated into selenoproteins (selenocysteine, selenocystine) crucial for biological reactions.
- Organoselenium compounds are explored as alternatives to sulfur/oxygen-based drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of selenium in medicinal chemistry.
- To highlight recent advances in pharmacological organoselenium compounds.
- To discuss the benefits of selenium in drug development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on recent publications (last few years).
- Analysis of pharmacological data for organoselenium compounds.
- Comparison of organoselenium drugs with existing sulfur and oxygen analogs.
Main Results:
- Organoselenium drugs exhibit potent antioxidant properties.
- Increased lipophilicity of organoselenium compounds enhances cell membrane permeation and oral bioavailability.
- Selenium's unique properties offer advantages over sulfur and oxygen in drug design.
Conclusions:
- Selenium is a valuable element in medicinal chemistry with significant therapeutic potential.
- Organoselenium compounds represent a promising class of drugs with improved pharmacokinetic profiles.
- Further research into organoselenium compounds is warranted for novel drug discovery.
Related Concept Videos
Properties of Organometallic Compounds
Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...
Stereoisomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
Antidotes
Specific antidotes operate by inhibiting the enzymes that control biochemical pathways, reducing the production of harmful metabolites.
An example of an antidote is atropine, which counteracts the detrimental effects of cholinesterase inhibitors. It achieves this by deactivating muscarinic receptors,...
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides

