Selenomethoxylation of Alkenes Promoted by Oxone®

Calcium(II)-Mediated Three-Component Selenylation of gem-Difluoroalkenes: Access to α,α-Difluoroalkyl-β-selenides

A calcium-mediated three-component selenylation of gem-difluoroalkenes using alcohols as nucleophiles and N-(phenylseleno)phthalimide as the selenylation agent has been developed for the efficient synthesis of various α,α-difluoroalkyl-β-selenides. This selenylation reaction exhibits broad substrate and functional group tolerance, along with high levels of chemo- and regioselectivity. Additionally, the synthetic utility of the developed transformation in the late-stage functionalization of drug molecules was demonstrated.

Recent Progress in Synthetic and Biological Application of Diorganyl Diselenides

Diorganyl diselenides have emerged as privileged structures because they are easy to prepare, have distinct reactivity, and have broad biological activity. They have also been used in the synthesis of natural products as an electrophile in the organoselenylation of aromatic systems and peptides, reductions of alkenes, and nucleophilic substitution. This review summarizes the advancements in methods for the transformations promoted by diorganyl diselenides in the main functions of organic chemistry. Parallel, it will also describe the main findings on pharmacology and toxicology of diorganyl diselenides, emphasizing anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, chemotherapeutic, and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, an examination detailing the reactivity and biological characteristics of diorganyl diselenides provides valuable insights for academic researchers and industrial professionals.

Electrochemical selenofunctionalization of unactivated alkenes: access to β-hydroxy-selenides

This work demonstrates the electrochemical construction of 2-methyl-1-aryloxy-3-(arylselanyl)propan-2-ol/2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-(arylselanyl)propyl 2-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-(arylselanyl)propoxy)benzoate starting from aryl allyl ethers/allyl benzoates and diaryl diselenides under additive-free electrochemical conditions. This environmentally friendly method was achieved through constant current electrolysis in an undivided cell setup under acid, oxidant, or catalyst-free conditions. Additionally, this technique enabled the synthesis of a variety of β-hydroxy selenides including late-stage functionalization of drug derivatives in good to exceptional yields across various substrates under mild reaction conditions.

Calcium(II)-Mediated Three-Component Selenofunctionalization of Alkenes under Mild Conditions

A mild and general protocol involving amnio- and oxyselenation of diverse alkenes for the efficient synthesis of organo-Se compounds is achieved via an environmentally benign calcium-catalyzed three-component reaction. This selenofunctionalization reaction exhibits excellent substrate/functional group tolerance and high levels of chemo- and regioselectivity. Its utility was exemplified in the late-stage functionalization and even aggregation-induced emission luminogen labeling of organo-Se compounds.

Chitin and Silk Fibroin Biopolymers Modified by Oxone: Efficient Heterogeneous Catalysts for Knoevenagel Reaction

New materials from silk fibroin (FS-Ox) and chitin (CT-Ox) functionalized with Oxone® salt were developed for application in the synthesis of Knoevenagel adducts. The experiments were performed using benzaldehyde derivatives, malononitrile, and a mixture of water and ethanol as green solvents. The efficiency of conventional and microwave irradiation as heating sources for this reaction was also investigated. When the reactions were performed for 60 min under optimized conditions with conventional heating, twelve Knoevenagel adducts 2a–l were obtained, with good yields for both catalysts (CT-Ox 60–98% and FS-Ox 71–98%). When microwave irradiation was used, the reaction periods were reduced twelvefold, with the same Knoevenagel adducts with good CT-Ox (39–99%) and FS-Ox (35–99%) yields obtained in most cases. The reuse of these materials as catalysts in successive reactions was also evaluated, and CT-Ox FS-Ox were successfully used for 4 and 2 cycles, respectively. The results presented prove the efficiency of the CT-OxFS-Ox catalyst as a promising low-cost and reusable material with suitable catalytic properties to be applied in the aldol condensation reaction in a sustainable way.

Electrochemical oxidative cyclization of alkenes, boronic acids, and dichalcogenides to access chalcogenated boronic esters and 1,3-diols

A sustainable, environmentally benign electrochemical oxidative three-component cyclization of allylic alcohols, boronic acids, and dichalcogenides under metal-free and oxidant-free conditions has been developed.

Synthesis of 4-Selanyl- and 4-Tellanyl-1H-isochromen-1-ones Promoted by Diorganyl Dichalcogenides and Oxone

A new method was developed for the synthesis of 4-chalcogenyl-1H-isochromen-1-ones through the 6-endo-dig electrophilic cyclization of 2-alkynylaryl esters and diorganyl dichalcogenides under ultrasound irradiation. The reactions were performed under mild conditions, using Oxone as a green oxidant to promote the cleavage of the chalcogen-chalcogen bond in diorganyl diselenides and ditellurides to generate electrophilic species in situ. A total of 25 compounds were selectively obtained after 30-70 min, in good to excellent yields (74-95%). This procedure was extended to prepare 5H-selenopheno[3,2-c]isochromen-5-ones. Additionally, for the first time, the 4-chalcogenyl-1H-isochromen-1-ones were used as substrates in the thionation reaction, using Lawesson's reagent and microwave irradiation under solvent-free conditions, obtaining the thio derivatives in yields of up to 99% in only 15 min.

Diorganyl diselenides: a powerful tool for the construction of selenium containing scaffolds

Organoselenium compounds find versatile applications in organic synthesis, materials synthesis, and ligand chemistry. Organoselenium heterocycles are widely studied agents with diverse applications in various biological processes. This review highlights the recent progress in the synthesis of selenium heterocycles using diorganyl diselenides with keen attention on green synthetic approaches, scopes, C-H selanylation, the mechanisms of different reactions and insights into the formation of metal complexes. The C-H selanylation using diorganyl diselenides with different catalysts, bases, transition metals, iodine salts, NIS, hypervalent iodine, and other reagents is summarised. Finally, the diverse binding modes of bis(2/4-pyridyl)diselenide with different metal complexes are also summarised.

Arylseleninic acid as a green, bench-stable selenylating agent: synthesis of selanylanilines and 3-selanylindoles

C–Se bonds in electron-rich arenes are easily formed by the reaction of bench-stable arylseleninic acids as an electrophilic selenium source. The only waste in the reaction is water.

Efficient Protocol for Synthesis of β-Hydroxy(alkoxy)selenides via Electrochemical Iodide-Catalyzed Oxyselenation of Styrene Derivatives with Dialkyl(aryl)diselenides

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of β-hydroxy(alkoxy)selenides was developed through the electrochemical iodide-catalyzed oxyselenation of styrene derivatives with dialkyl(aryl)diselenides under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies showed that the cation I+ is involved during the whole process, and accelerates the formation of seleniranium ion via substitution and addition reaction with dialkyl(aryl)diselenides and styrene derivatives. The corresponding products are formed in good to excellent yields. This electrochemical oxyselenation provides an efficient strategy for difunctionalization of alkenes.

Synthesis of 2,3-bis-organochalcogenyl-benzo[b]chalcogenophenes promoted by Oxone®

We report here an alternative and tunable metal-free synthesis of benzo[b]chalcogenophenes via the electrophilic cyclization of 2-functionalized chalcogenoalkynes promoted by Oxone®.

Ultrasound-promoted synthesis of 2-organoselanyl-naphthalenes using Oxone® in aqueous medium as an oxidizing agent

A green methodology to synthesize 2-organoselanyl-naphthalenes based on the reaction of alkynols with diaryl diselenides is described. The electrophilic species of selenium were generated in situ, by the oxidative cleavage of the Se–Se bond of diaryl diselenides by Oxone^® using water as the solvent. The reactions proceeded efficiently under ultrasonic irradiation as an alternative energy source, using a range of alkynols and diorganyl diselenides as starting materials. Through this methodology, the corresponding 2-organoselanyl-naphthalenes were obtained in moderate to good yields (56–94%) and in short reaction times (0.25–2.3 h).