Electrochemical Radical Selenylation of Alkenes and Arenes via Se-Se Bond Activation

Org Lett. 2021 Oct 15;23(20):7724-7729. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c02661. Epub 2021 Sep 28.

Abstract

A novel electrochemical radical selenylation of alkenes and activated arenes without external oxidants is reported. The diselenide was fully transformed into Se-centered radicals through electrochemical Se-Se bond activation. Three-component radical carbonselenation was successfully realized using styrenes to trap the RSe radical. Besides, the direct coupling of RSe radicals with activated arenes was further developed. Using this atom-economic protocol, diversity of unsymmetric aryl-aryl, aryl-alkyl, and alkyl-alkyl selenoethers was obtained regioselectively, which has potential application in biological chemistry.