Copper nano-catalyst: sustainable phenyl-selenylation of aryl iodides and vinyl bromides in water under ligand free conditions

A simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of aryl- and vinyl-selenides has been developed by a copper nanoparticle catalysed reaction of aryl iodide/vinyl bromide with diphenyl diselenide in the presence of zinc in water. (E)-Vinyl bromides produce (E)-vinyl selenides stereoselectively, whereas (Z)-vinyl bromides provide mixtures of (E) and (Z) isomers. The catalyst was recycled.