Recent advances in organic synthesis applying elemental selenium

The synthesis of organoselenium compounds through C-Se bond-forming has attracted immense attention due to their biological values and extensive pharmaceutical applications. As a result, diverse selenating reagents have been developed over the past few decades for this purpose. In particular, elemental selenium (Se), with the advantages of being non-toxic, odorless and chemically stable, has gained numerous interests as it showed great potentials for the formation of variously valuable organoseleniums via direct incorporation of Se atom into target molecules in a simple way. Moreover, direct C -H bond selenation with elemental Se has been considered as a highly atom-economic method to C-Se bond formation because it avoided substrate pre-activation. In view of the importance of organoselenium compounds, this review highlights the recent advances in organic synthesis involving elemental Se since 2002, which would be useful for researchers in the learning of Se for organic reactions. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The synthesis of organoselenium compounds has attracted significant attention for their biological values and pharmaceutical applications. Over the years, various selenating reagents, including elemental selenium, have been developed. Elemental selenium, in particular, has shown great potential for the direct incorporation of selenium atoms into target molecules. Additionally, direct C-H bond selenation with elemental selenium is considered an atom-efficient method. This review highlights the recent advances in organic synthesis involving elemental selenium since 2002, providing useful information for researchers studying selenium in organic reactions.