Electrocatalytic Selenylation of 2‐Alkenylanilines for the Synthesis of 3‐Selanylindoles

Abstract

An electrocatalytic cascade selenylation/oxidation of 2‐alkenylanilines enables the assembly of various 2‐aryl‐3‐selanylindoles in one‐pot under chemical oxidant‐free and transition metal‐free conditions is disclosed. A series of functional 3‐selanylindoles are smoothly furnished in acceptable yields. This electrocatalytic strategy is flexibly suitable for diverse diaryl diselenides and 2‐alkenylanilines. This method is highlighted by broad substrate scope, good functional group compatibility, mild conditions, and easy operation. The preliminarily mechanistic experiments suggest that a radical pathway is probably involved in this protocol.

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