ABSTRACT
New linear and cyclic chalcogen-containing compounds have been synthesized exploiting the reactivity of bis(trimethylsilyl)selenide with strained heterocycles. A simple and efficient procedure allowed a selective access to β-functionalized selenides, diselenides, and dithiaselenepanes under mild conditions. Antioxidant catalytic activity of these compounds was investigated in the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with dithiothreitol (DTTred). According to this assay, some of the synthesized structures exhibited a remarkable glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-like activity.