Copper-Promoted C-Se Cross-Coupling of 2-Selenohydantoins with Arylboronic Acids in an Open Flask.

The modification of Chan-Lam-Evans cross-coupling reaction for the selective Se-arylation of 2-selenohydantoins under base-free mild conditions via aryl boronic acids is described herein. This approach was used to synthesize novel 5-arylidene-3-substituted-2-(arylselanyl)-imidazoline-4-ones with high yields. The anticancer activity of the final compounds was evaluated in vitro against different cancer cells, and thus, the possibility of 5-arylidene-3-substituted-2-(arylselanyl)-imidazoline-4-ones successful application as cytotoxic agents was demonstrated.