The synthesis, molecular structure and spectra properties of sulfur and selenium deferiprone analogues

Deferiprone has a broad spectrum of biological effects. Thus it is interesting to investigate the influence of structural changes in deferiprone on its biological activity. This work presents a synthesis of a new selenium analogue of deferiprone, 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-4(1H)- pyridineselenone (3-HDPSe), and an improved method for synthesis of a sulfur analogue of deferiprone, 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-4(1H)-pyridinethione (3-HDPT). The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by means of IR, MS, 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR measurements. Single crystals of the selenium analogue were obtained and the crystal structure determined using X-ray diffraction. Additionally DFT (the B3LYP functional combined with the 6-311++G** basis set) theoretical calculations were conducted and the results compared with experimental data.