Nucleophilic Cleavage of Selenaheterocyclic Ring in Benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones and 1,3,2-Benzodiselenazoles

The reactions of cyclic selenenamides: benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-ones and 1,3,2-benzo-diselenazoles 3 with living cell nucleophiles such as water and thiols were investigated. Both of them caused Se-N bond cleavage. The thiolysis of 1 led to selenosulphides 6, 9 or to products of their disproportionation the equimolar mixtures of diselenides 7 and disulphides 8. The hydrolysis of 1 and 3 as well as thiolysis of 3 resulted in formation of corresponding diaryl diselenides 7 or 10.