Synthesis of new heterocycle-based selenoamides as potent cytotoxic agents

Abstract

We report the synthesis of a new series of aryl- and heteroaryl (hydroxy)ethyl selenoamides, in a two-step, one-pot sequence based on the aminolysis/selenative demetalation of Fischer ethoxycarbene complexes, in good to excellent global yields, as small cytotoxic molecules. The molecular structure of a 2-thienyl based selenoamide was confirmed by single-crystal X-Ray diffraction analysis. In vitro analysis against different human cancer (HCT-15, U251 and PC-3) and human T-lymphocyte (MT2) cell lines revealed that the 2-thienyl based selenoamide can be considered a potent and selective compound against the human prostatic adenocarcinoma (PC-3) cell line with an IC50 value of 14.5 μM.