Research Projects

The study reveals that organoselenoxide is a potent class of molecules that could be used to develop new anti-cancer agents for medicinal applications. The researchers plan to design the synthesis of various biologically active classes of heterocycles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and polycyclic heteroaromatics with one or multiple organoselanyl/tellanyl and organoseleninyl/organotellurinyl functional groups for the evaluation of anti-cancer activities. The proposed work plan is divided into three parts. In Part 1, the researchers propose the development of electrochemical chalcogenative annulations of readily available alkynes or alkyne-chalcogenides with diorganyl dichalcogenides for the green synthesis of organochalcogenides. These organochalcogenides could be further oxidized under oxidant-free electrochemical conditions using water as a source of oxygen or an oxidant to access the medicinally potential organochalcogenoxides. Part 2 focuses on the green synthesis of highly substituted 4-selanyl/tellanyl isoquinolinones and 3,4-bis(selanyl/tellanyl) isoquinolinones, and their further oxidation to corresponding chalcogenoxides. In Part 3, the researchers plan to develop a two-fold chalcogenylative annulation with bis-alkynes and bis-alkynylchalcogenides for the green synthesis of bis- and tetra-chalcogenyl pyrenes and ullazines under electrochemical conditions. The anti-cancer activities of these compounds will be evaluated to find novel PAH- and polycyclic heteroaromatic-based anti-cancer agents.