Selenazolidines as Novel Organoselenium Delivery Agents

Two new classes of selenazolidine-4(R)-carboxylic acids (2-oxo and 2-methyl-SCAs) were synthesized and characterized. Both were designed as latent forms of selenocysteine, intended to provide a chemically superior delivery form for selenium. The prodrugs may be clinically useful when selenium supplementation at supranutritional levels is indicated, such as in cancer chemoprevention.