Selenocysteine selenenic acids (Sec-SeOHs) and selenocysteine selenenyl iodides (Sec-SeIs) have long been recognized as crucial intermediates in the catalytic cycle of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio), respectively. However, the observation of these reactive species remained elusive until our recent study, where we successfully stabilized Sec-SeOHs and Sec-SeIs using a protective molecular cradle. Here, we report the first demonstration of the chemical transformation from a Sec-SeI to a Sec-SeOH through alkaline hydrolysis. A stable Sec-SeI derived from a selenocysteine methyl ester was synthesized using the protective cradle, and its structure was determined by crystallographic analysis. The alkaline hydrolysis of the Sec-SeI at -50 °C yielded the corresponding Sec-SeOH in an 89% NMR yield, the formation of which was further confirmed by its reaction with dimedone. The facile and nearly quantitative conversion of the Sec-SeI to the Sec-SeOH not only validates the potential involvement of this process in the catalytic mechanism of Dio, but also highlights its utility as a method for producing a Sec-SeOH.
Keywords: iodothyronine deiodinase; molecular cradles; selenenic acids; selenenyl iodides; selenocysteines.