Glycerol as a promoting medium for cross-coupling reactions of diaryl diselenides with vinyl bromides

We described herein the use of glycerol as a novel solvent in the cross-coupling reaction of diaryl diselenides with vinyl bromides catalyzed by Cul. This cross-coupling reaction was performed with diaryl diselenides and (Z)- or (E)-vinyl bromides bearing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups, affording the corresponding vinyl selenides in good to excellent yields. The mixture glycerol/catalyst can be directly reused for further cross-coupling reactions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.