Kilogram-Scale Production of Selenized Glucose

Abstract

Selenized glucose is a new product that has recently been used as the starting material for the preparation of seleniumcontaining catalyst, antibacterial agent, and even heavy metal scavenger. It has potentially important market prospects and commercial value. The chemical can be synthesized by the selenization reaction of glucose with NaHSe, which is generated in situ via the reduction of selenium powder with NaBH 4 . In this work, we found that oxygen should be strictly avoided during the synthetic reactions and ethanol was the preferable solvent for obtaining the product in stable powder forms. On the basis of these findings, a production line was built to synthesize selenized glucose in kilogram-scale for the first time.

Chemical Structure, Hypoglycemic Activity, and Mechanism of Action of Selenium Polysaccharides

“…Chemically synthetic Se-polysaccharides with hypoglycemic activity were achieved based upon Artemisia sphaerocephala polysaccharides using SeOCl 2 method [ 35 ]. Most recently, selenized glucose with in vivo antioxidant activity was synthesized, which might be used as an alternative precursor for de novo synthesis of Se-polysaccharides [ 36 – 38 ].…”

Methylselenized Glucose: Improvement of the Stability of Glucose-Supported Selenium via the End-Capping Strategy

“…28 The versatile applications of glucose-supported selenium make it a very important novel material since its invention in 2018, and the kilogram-scale production and commercialization of this material have already been achieved. 29 Presently, glucose-supported selenium is produced through selenization of glucose with NaHSe, which is generated in situ via the reduction of selenium powder with NaBH 4 (Scheme 1). 29 However, the present synthetic techniques of this material suffer from a series of issues that may prevent its production on a large scale as well as its long-term storage.…”

“…29 Presently, glucose-supported selenium is produced through selenization of glucose with NaHSe, which is generated in situ via the reduction of selenium powder with NaBH 4 (Scheme 1). 29 However, the present synthetic techniques of this material suffer from a series of issues that may prevent its production on a large scale as well as its long-term storage. For example, the use of NaBH 4 as a reductant to generate nucleophilic low-valent selenium species is effective but expensive, and the inevitably generated hydrogen gas may cause high safety risks.…”

“…For example, the use of NaBH 4 as a reductant to generate nucleophilic low-valent selenium species is effective but expensive, and the inevitably generated hydrogen gas may cause high safety risks. 29 Moreover, the produced material bears a −SeH group, which is highly reductive and can be oxidized by air, leading to the decomposition of the material. 29 Recently, we have developed a novel method for the production of glucosesupported selenium by using the end-capping strategy, which could well resolve the safety and stability issues (Scheme 1).…”

“…29 Moreover, the produced material bears a −SeH group, which is highly reductive and can be oxidized by air, leading to the decomposition of the material. 29 Recently, we have developed a novel method for the production of glucosesupported selenium by using the end-capping strategy, which could well resolve the safety and stability issues (Scheme 1). Herein, we wish to report our findings.…”