Direct Electrooxidative Selenylation/Cyclization of Alkynes: Access to Functionalized Benzo[b]furans.

A mild, practical, metal and oxidant-free methodology for the synthesis of various C-3 selenylated benzo[b]furan derivatives was developed through the intramolecular cyclization of alkynes promoted with diselenides via electrooxidation. A wide range of selenium-substituted benzo[b]furan derivatives were obtained in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity under constant current in an undivided cell equipped with carbon and platinum plates as the anode and cathode, respectively. Moreover, the convergent approach exhibited good functional group tolerance and could be easily scaled up with good efficiency, providing rapid access to a diverse range of selenylated benzo[b]furans derivatives from simple, readily available starting materials.

Direct Electrochemical Selenylation/Cyclization of Alkenes: Access to Functionalized Benzheterocycles.

A catalyst-free, environmentally friendly, and efficient electrochemical selenylation/cyclization of alkenes has been developed with moderate to excellent yields. This selenylated transformation proceeds smoothly and tolerates a wide range of synthetically useful groups to deliver diverse functionalized benzheterocycles, including iminoisobenzofuran, lactones, oxindoles, and quinolinones. Moreover, the present synthetic route could also be readily scaled up to gram quantity with convenient operation in an undivided cell.

Electrochemical regioselective C-H selenylation of 2H-indazole derivatives.

Selenium-substituted heteroarenes are biologically active compounds and useful building blocks. In this study, we have developed a metal- and oxidant-free, environmentally friendly protocol for the regioselective selenylation of 2H-indazole derivatives by an electrochemical strategy. A number of selenylated 2H-indazoles with a wide range of functional groups have been synthesized in moderate to good yields under mild and environment-friendly reaction conditions.