Catalyst and Additive-Free Selective Ring-Opening Selenocyanation of Heterocycles with Elemental Selenium and TMSCN

A catalyst and additive-free strategy for selective ring-opening selenocyanation of saturated heterocycles with elemental selenium and TMSCN is developed, affording a series of aliphatic selenocyanates and selenaheterocycles. In the case of unprotected unstrained N-heterocycles, the reactions offer ammonium selenonitriles that prove to be an efficient selenonitrile reagent.

Automated summary

A catalyst and additive-free strategy for selective ring-opening selenocyanation of saturated heterocycles has been developed, yielding a series of aliphatic selenocyanates and selenaheterocycles using elemental selenium and TMSCN. In the case of unprotected unstrained N-heterocycles, the reactions produce ammonium selenonitriles which are proven to be efficient selenonitrile reagents.