Synthesis of novel selenium and tellurium-containing tetrazoles: a class of chalcogen compounds with antifungal activity

We describe herein the synthesis and antifungal activity of new 5-arylchalcogenoalkyl-1H-tetrazoles 4. Arylchalcogenoalkyl-1H-tetrazoles 4 have been synthesized in high yields by reaction of arylchalcogenolate anions with chloronitriles 2, and subsequent [2+3] cycloaddition of resulting arylchalcogenoalkylnitriles 3 with sodium azide by zinc catalysis in aqueous solution. The obtained compound 4a was screened for antifungal activity and presented inhibitory property against seven fungal strains. This protocol is an efficient method to produce new selenium–nitrogen compounds with antifungal activity.