A novel method of photoinduced synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl selenides from triarylbismuthines and diaryl diselenides has been developed. Although the arylation reactions with triarylbismuthines are usually catalyzed by transition-metal complexes, the present arylation of diaryl diselenides with triarylbismuthines proceeds upon photoirradiation in the absence of transition-metal catalysts. A variety of unsymmetrical diaryl selenides can be conveniently prepared by using this arylation method.
Keywords: arylation; free radical; organobismuth; photoinduced reaction; unsymmetrical diaryl selenide.