Regioselective Synthesis of Selenide Ethers through a Decarboxylative Coupling Reaction

An efficient and selective approach to the synthesis of selenide ethers containing one or two geminal C-Se bonds from readily available diselenides and phenylacetic acids was developed. Compounds containing one C-Se bond were prepared by employing air as the oxidant under metal-free conditions, whereas compounds having two geminal C-Se bonds were formed via the iron(III) chloride/oxygen/cesium carbonate (FeCl3/O-2/Cs2CO3) system. Moreover, 1,2-diphenyldisulfane also could be smoothly converted into the corresponding sulfur ether product under the standard reaction conditions.