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.