Simultaneous conversion of dialkyl phosphites to dialkyl phosphoric acids and SeO₂ to Se nanoparticles in water and their anticancer properties

A novel, very simple, one-way, economical, and convenient reaction method for the simultaneous synthesis of dialkyl phosphoric acids and selenium nanoparticles has been developed. This communication describes the synthesis and characterization of selenium nanoparticles through the reactions of dialkyl phosphites and selenium dioxide. Dialkyl phosphites serve as reducing agents for converting selenium dioxide (a hazardous selenium source) to selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs), and conversely, selenium dioxide oxidizes dialkyl phosphites to dialkyl phosphoric acids. The impact of solvents, temperature, and ratio of materials is included in this study. Most of the prepared Se NPs tend to agglomerate, and their stability improved by the addition of β-cyclodextrin. In addition to enhancing the stability of Se NPs by cyclodextrin, the anticancer properties of the as-prepared Se NPs stabilized by β-cyclodextrin are studied. The reported method presents the conversion of selenium dioxide (a hazardous selenium source) to valuable Se NPs (hemispherical Se crystals) and industrially applicable dialkyl phosphoric acids from inexpensive materials with zero E factor and one atom economy.