Vistas in the domain of organoselenocyanates

Abstract

In this review we compile and update recent developments in the synthesis, chemical properties, and biological importance of organic selenocyanates. The diverse synthetic routes to organoselenocyanates are described in the first part, including direct and indirect cyanoselenation. In the second part, the chemical reactions of organoselenocyanate are discussed. These included oxidation-reduction reactions. Further reactions included addition to the selenocyanate carbonitrile group, and reactions accompanied with cyanide group loss. These compounds exhibit anticancer, antioxidative, antileishmanial, antimutagenic and chemopreventive properties. The reported biological properties of this group of compounds are summarized in the last part.