Synthesis of Functionalized Organoselenium Materials: Selenides and Diselenides Containing Cholesterol

Abstract A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of three new series of chalcogen liquid crystals, based on selenides and diselenides, containing cholesterol in their structure, is described. Thermal and liquid crystalline properties were investigated by POM, DSC, TGA and XRD scattering. Six of the nine molecules synthesized showed liquid crystal properties, with smectic mesomorphism. All the compounds presented good thermal stability. The smectic mesomorphism was confirmed through XRD analysis. The morphology of the surface of the films was investigated by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). All prepared diselenides showed good glutathione peroxidase like activity and one of the diselenides was 3.3 times more active than the standard Ebselen.