Direct Electrochemical Selenylation/Cyclization of Alkenes: Access to Functionalized Benzheterocycles

A catalyst-free, environmentally friendly, and efficient electrochemical selenylation/cyclization of alkenes has been developed with moderate to excellent yields. This selenylated transformation proceeds smoothly and tolerates a wide range of synthetically useful groups to deliver diverse functionalized benzheterocycles, including iminoisobenzofuran, lactones, oxindoles, and quinolinones. Moreover, the present synthetic route could also be readily scaled up to gram quantity with convenient operation in an undivided cell.

Automated summary

This study introduced a catalyst-free, environmentally friendly, and efficient electrochemical selenylation/cyclization method for the synthesis of diverse functionalized benzheterocycles. The process proceeded smoothly and could be scaled up to gram quantity with convenient operation in an undivided cell.