Selenium-containing heterocycles

As an essential trace element, selenium (Se) has become an emerging versatile player in heterocycles and natural product modifications. Numerous organoselenium (org-Se) compounds have been found to be potential therapeutic agents for treating a series of diseases. Among a wide variety of org-Se compounds, seleno-heterocycles are especially important for their excellent redox modulation properties as well as better stability and safety profiles compared with acyclic org-Se compounds. This chapter focuses on advances in seleno-heterocycles in medicinal chemistry. It also provides some perspectives on challenges in this field and potential future research directions.