Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of 5-(1,2-Diselenolan-3-Yl)pentanoic Acid and its Derivatives

Abstract A green and high-yielding synthetic route for the preparation of 5-(1,2-diselenolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid (SeA) was reported. Some SeA derivatives, N′-substituted benzylidene-5-(1,2-diselenolan-3-yl)pentanehydrazide, were prepared, and they were screened for their anticancer activity against human breast MCF-7, leukemia HL-60, cervixuterus Hela, and placental villus Bewo cancer cell lines. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the synthetic compounds showed moderate anticancer activity at low concentrations (0.5–5 μg/mL).