As imple and rapid methodf or the selective synthesis of 3-(organylselanyl)-1 H-indoles and3 -(organylselanyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines catalyzed by CuI/SeO 2 under ultrasound irradiation was developed. This protocol employs adiverse range of 1 H-indoles or imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and diorganyl diselenides to afford the corresponding products selectively in good to excellent yields. Moreover,t he antioxidant activity of these compounds was evaluated by using aw ider ange of in vitro assays,s uch as 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and inhibition of reactive speciesf ormation in mice cortex. The bioassays revealed thatb oth classes of the newly synthesized organoselenium compounds present antioxidanta ctivity,w ith emphasis on the 3-(organylselanyl)-1 Hindoles.T his pharmacological activity opens aw ide range of biological applications where the reduction of oxidative stress is essential.[a] B. Results and DiscussionAc omparatives tudy on the use of microwaves, US, and conventional heating in the copper-catalyzed selenylation of indoles in DMSO was recently reported by us. [18b] In this reaction, Figure 1. 3-Arylselanylindoles A and B and 3-thioimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines C and D with similar effects to Combretastatin A-4a nd Enviroxime.Scheme1.Generalscheme of the present work.

Ultrasonic (US) irradiation was successfully used as an alternative energy source to prepare 3-selanylindoles through the direct selanylation of indoles with diorganyl diselenides using CuI (20 mol%) as catalyst and DMSO as the solvent. By using this US-promoted reaction, eleven 3-organylselanylindoles were prepared selectively and in good yields. A comparative study between the reactions under conventional heating, microwave and ultrasound irradiations was performed, and it was observed advantage in using US over the other heating systems.

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Organoselenium compounds and indoles have gained attention due to their wide range of pharmacological properties. Depression is a recurrent and disabling psychiatric illness and current evidences support that oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of this psychiatric condition. Here, we evaluated the effect of 3-((4-chlorophenyl)selanyl)-1-methyl-1H-indole (CMI) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behaviour, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in male mice. CMI pre-treatment (20 and 50 mg/kg, intragastrically) significantly attenuated LPS (0.83 mg/kg, intraperitoneally)-induced depressive-like behaviour in mice by reducing the immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). CMI pre-treatment ameliorated LPS-induced neuroinflammation by reducing the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4 and IL-6 in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, as well as markers of oxidative damage. Additionally, we investigated the toxicological effects of CMI (200 mg/kg, i.g.) in the liver, kidney and brain through determination of the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) and creatinine levels. These biomarkers were not modified, indicating the possible absence of neuro-, hepato- and nephrotoxic effects. Our results suggest that CMI could be a therapeutic approach for the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders associated with inflammation and oxidative stress.

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