Efficient Synthesis of Modular Amino Acid Derivatives Containing Selenium with Pronounced GPx-Like Activity

New chiral selenide- and diselenide amino acid derivatives have been synthesized. By a simple and efficient two-step route, these new compounds were obtained from inexpensive and commercially available L-ammo acids. The products, with a highly modular character, were obtained in good to excellent yields. Selected examples were also efficiently used as GPx mimics, catalyzing the reduction of H2O2 to water at the expense of PhSH. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)