Organochalcogen Derivatives in Medicinal Chemistry

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 March 2026 | Viewed by 816

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: organic synthesis; medicinal chemistry; asymmetric synthesis; organoselenium compounds
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Guest Editor
Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 7 Gagarin Street, 87-100 Torun, Poland
Interests: organic synthesis; terpenes; asymmetric synthesis; antioxidants; higher chalcogenides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Collegues,

An unhealthy lifestyle, pollution and global warming are some of the factors that facilitate the development of diseases like diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Current medicinal chemistry faces the problem of disease prevention and treatment in the context of current environmental issues. Investment in modern protocols and synthetic procedures that fulfill the rules of green chemistry and enable the creation of new bioactive molecules with maximized activity and reduced toxicity must be undertaken. The reactivity of chalcogens (S, Se and Te) has been studied for decades and is still being investigated by research groups worldwide. The application of organochalcogens is broad and covers the field of modern organic synthesis, material science and medicinal chemistry. Their uniqueness is associated with diversified application directions that can be accomplished in accordance with the rules of green chemistry. This Special Issue will focus on innovative synthetic protocols and the applicability of bio-active heterorganic molecules with an incorporated sulfur, selenium or tellurium atom.

Dr. Agata Pacuła-Miszewska
Prof. Dr. Jacek Ścianowski
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • organochalcogens
  • modern organic synthesis
  • medicinal chemistry
  • biological activity

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

24 pages, 5161 KB  
Review
Organoselenium Compounds Derived from Natural Metabolites
by Agata J. Pacuła-Miszewska, Magdalena Obieziurska-Fabisiak and Jacek Ścianowski
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(11), 1749; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111749 - 17 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Natural metabolites, due to their abundance, structural diversity, and availability in enantiomerically pure form, are broadly utilized in the synthesis of reagents, catalysts, building blocks, and potential therapeutics. To date, various organoselenium compounds, including selenides, diselenides, selenols, selenonium salts, and ylides, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Natural metabolites, due to their abundance, structural diversity, and availability in enantiomerically pure form, are broadly utilized in the synthesis of reagents, catalysts, building blocks, and potential therapeutics. To date, various organoselenium compounds, including selenides, diselenides, selenols, selenonium salts, and ylides, have been created based on the scaffold of primary and secondary metabolites like amino acids, sugars, nucleic bases, terpenes, and steroids. Their synthesis and application routes as reagents and catalysts in organic synthesis and biological systems are summarized in the presented review. Methods: The gathered material has been divided into two sections—naturally derived organoselenium compounds, such as antioxidants and GPx-mimetics, and reagents utilized in modern organic transformations. Results: The review summarizes the utility of natural scaffolds in the construction of organoselenium compounds with promising applications as antioxidant-type catalysts in biological systems (GPx-mimetics) and potent reagents for organic transformations, including asymmetric reactions. Conclusions: This review provides a comprehensive overview of known organoselenium reagents derived from natural compounds, discusses the advantages of their use in medicinal chemistry and modern organic synthesis, and outlines prospective directions for future development in this area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organochalcogen Derivatives in Medicinal Chemistry)
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