Introduction

The use of organoselenium reagents as catalysts is a common thread that runs through the chapters of this book, introducing important aspects of the modern organoselenium chemistry: organocatalysis, green chemistry, bioinspiration, antioxidant activity. The eBook covers the most recent developments in the classical synthetic application of organoselenium reagents such as electrophilic, nucleophilic and free radical reagents. The volume also features a discussion on the synthesis and the synthetic applications of some emerging classes of selenium compounds such as hypervalent selenium species and selenoamides, and also addresses some biological aspects such as the antimicrobial activity of organoselenium derivatives and the biochemistry of selenoproteins. A number of eminent scientists from different research groups were involved in the preparation of the 13 chapters of the book, making Organoselenium Chemistry: Between Synthesis and Biochemistry an excellent reference about selenium chemistry for researchers and graduate students in the field of selenium chemistry.