Approaches to the synthesis of selenium analogs of dapsone

CHED 287

Jessica A. Hoch, hochj@southwestern.edu, Kim H. Le, lek@southwestern.edu, and Lynn J. Guziec. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Southwestern University, 1001 E. University Ave., Georgetown, TX 78626
Dapsone, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, is an antimicrobial drug most commonly prescribed for Hansen's disease, yet it has also been known to be effective against other pathogenic diseases. Dapsone is administered in high doses, often resulting in serious side effects. Our objective was to synthesize a selenium analogue of dapsone, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylselenone, in hopes that the derivative would be more effective and less toxic. Two different approaches were used to prepare the desired product from a common synthetic precursor, 4,4'-dinitrodiphenylselenide. Both approaches involved selectively reducing the nitro groups and oxidizing the selenium to achieve the selenium analogue of dapsone. One approach involved completely oxidizing the selenium atom, and subsequently reducing the nitro groups to the corresponding amines. The other method required the reduction of the nitro groups before oxidizing the selenium. Details of the key synthetic procedures will be presented.