5-Selenization of salicylic acid derivatives yielded isoform-specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.

Low molecular weight seleno-organic compounds exhibit glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like activity; the well-known compound ebselen is being used in clinical trials as a stroke medication. Here, we describe the facile one-step synthesis of novel 5-selenized salicylic acid derivatives using selenium tetrachloride. The products were analyzed by spectroscopic studies including 77Se-NMR and some were subjected to X-ray structure determination. Several products were identified as selective inhibitors of the pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) but had little effect on the catalytic activity of 12/15-LOX, which has been implicated in the synthesis of anti-inflammatory mediators. Such isoform-specificity (specificity coefficient >120) has not been reported before for any seleno-organic compound. In addition, synthesis products exhibited GPx-like activity, which was higher than that of ebselen for some derivatives.