Two new classes of selenazolidine-4(R)-carboxylic acids (2-oxo and 2-methyl
-SCAs) were synthesized and characterized. Both were designed as latent for
ms of selenocysteine, intended to provide a chemically superior delivery fo
rm for selenium. The prodrugs may be clinically useful when selenium supple
mentation at supranutritional levels is indicated, such as in cancer chemop
revention. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.