Application of bis-2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl diselenide to the synthesis of selenium-containing amino acid derivatives

Abstract

Selenium-containing amino acids play a pivotal role as biomaterials for the synthesis of Se-dependent enzymes and repair proteins. Especially, selenocysteine and selenoglutathione are prominently involved in fundamental biological processes. In this study, a series of selenocysteine (Sec) and selenoglutathione (GSeH) derivatives were synthesized via 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethylselenation as a key step. Our findings suggested the relevance and application of a 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethylselenyl group to the Se-containing amino acid synthesis.