CONCISE SYNTHESES OF L-SELENOMETHIONINE AND OF L-SELENOCYSTINE USING RADICAL CHAIN REACTIONS

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)88049-2

L-Selenomethionine and L-selenocystine were prepared in high overall yields from protected L-glutamic and L-aspartic acid derivatives respectively.Irradiation of the mixed anhydrides (esters) derived from 4 (e.g. 15) in the presence of dimethyldiselenide provided the protected L-selenomethionine 16 directly.We have shown that triselenocyanide Se3(CN)2 can serve as an efficient selenocyanating agent for radicals; the selenocyanide group is a good precursor for the diselenide moiety of L-selenocystine.