Ebselen is a potent scavenger of hydrogen peroxide as well as hydroperoxides including membrane bound phospholipid and cholesterylester hydroperoxides. Several ebselen analogs have been shown to scavenge hydrogen peroxide in the presence of thiols.[12]
Possible anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity
Preliminary studies demonstrate that Ebselen exhibits promising inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 in cell-based assays.[13][14][15] The effect was attributed to irreversible inhibition of the main protease via a covalent bond formation with the thiol group of the active center's cysteine (Cys-145).[13]
Synthesis
Generally, synthesis of the characteristic scaffold of ebselen, the benzoisoselenazolone ring system, can be achieved either through reaction of primary amines (RNH2) with 2-(chloroseleno)benzoyl chloride (Route I),[16] by ortho-lithiation of benzanilides followed by oxidative cyclization (Route II) mediated by cupric bromide (CuBr2),[17] or through the efficient Cu-catalyzed selenation / heterocyclization of o-halobenzamides, a methodology developed by Kumar et al.[18] (Route III).
History
The first patent for 2-Phenyl-1,2-benzoselenazol-3(2H)-one was filed in 1980 and granted in 1982.[19]
References
^Schewe T (October 1995). "Molecular actions of ebselen--an antiinflammatory antioxidant". General Pharmacology. 26 (6): 1153–69. doi:10.1016/0306-3623(95)00003-J. PMID7590103.
^Satheeshkumar K, Mugesh G (April 2011). "Synthesis and antioxidant activity of peptide-based ebselen analogues". Chemistry: A European Journal. 17 (17): 4849–57. doi:10.1002/chem.201003417. PMID21400619.
^Engman L, Hallberg A (1989-06-01). "Expedient synthesis of ebselen and related compounds". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 54 (12): 2964–2966. doi:10.1021/jo00273a035. ISSN0022-3263.
^Balkrishna SJ, Bhakuni BS, Chopra D, Kumar S (December 2010). "Cu-catalyzed efficient synthetic methodology for ebselen and related Se-N heterocycles". Organic Letters. 12 (23): 5394–7. doi:10.1021/ol102027j. PMID21053969.
^DE3027073A1, Etschenberg, Eugen Dr; Renson, Marcel Prof Dipl-Chem Jupille & Winkelmann, Johannes Dr 5000 Köln, "2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2h)-on enthaltende pharmazeutische praeparate und ihre verwendung", issued 1982-02-18