Organoselenium benzimidazole compounds for treating cancer

A pharmaceutical composition, comprising

• an organoselenium benzimidazole compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or excipient,
• wherein
• R is at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted benzyl group, a para halo-substituted benzyl group, and an allyl group.

A method of forming an organoselenium benzimidazole compound of formula (1),

• where R is at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted benzyl group, a para halo-substituted benzyl group, and an allyl group,
• the method comprising
• reacting o-phenylenediamine and 4,4′-diselanediyldibenzoic acid with an acid to form 1,2-bis(4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)diselane;
• and
• reacting the 1,2-bis(4-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)diselane with at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkyl halide having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted benzyl halide, a para halo-substituted benzyl halide, and an allyl halide, a hydride reducing agent, and a base to form the organoselenium benzimidazole compound of formula (1).