Efficient Synthesis of Modular Amino Acid Derivatives Containing Selenium with Pronounced GPx‐Like Activity

Abstract

Abstract New chiral selenide‐ and diselenide amino acid derivatives have been synthesized. By a simple and efficient two‐step route, these new compounds were obtained from inexpensive and commercially available L ‐amino acids. The products, with a highly modular character, were obtained in good to excellent yields. Selected examples were also efficiently used as GPx mimics, catalyzing the reduction of H 2 O 2 to water at the expense of PhSH. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)