Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Antioxidants can block the chain reaction caused by free radicals before cell damage can result. Selenium antioxidants are one of the important types of antioxidants. All antioxidants have a chemical element referred to as a “redox” potential, which is the measurement of their ability to be oxidized. Experiment evidence has shown that incorporation of silicon atom or Si-Si bond at the beta position of Se atom in organo selenium compounds will enhance the activities of these compounds by lowering the redox potential. This is due to the beta-silicon effect or beta-disilanyl effect.
The objective of my research is to design and synthesize new organic selenium antioxidants with more potent antioxidant activities compared to the currently available selenium antioxidants. Based on the currently known selenium antioxidants such as seleno cystein, seleno cystamine, 3,3-diselenobispropionic acid, etc., the structures and synthesis of some new organo selenium antioxidants with incorporation of silicon atom or silicon-silicon bond at the beta position are proposed. Their antioxidant abilities will be evaluated by testing their redox potentials and different antioxidant capacity assays.
