Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diaryl Selenides: Copper-Catalyzed Se-Arylation of Diaryl Diselenides with Triarylbismuthanes

Copper-catalyzed C(aryl)-Se bond formation by the reaction of diaryl diselenides with triarylbismuthanes in the presence of copper(I) acetate (10 mol%) and 1,10-phenanthroline (10 mol%) under aerobic conditions led to the formation of unsymmetric diaryl selenides in moderate to excellent yields. This reaction proceeded efficiently; all three aryl groups in the bismuthane and both the selanyl groups in the diaryl diselenide were transferred to the coupling products.