Highly efficient synthesis of diselenides and ditellurides catalyzed by polyoxomolybdate-based copper

A new protocol for the polyoxomolybdate-based copper-catalyzed synthesis of diselenides and ditellurides from organic iodides and elemental selenium or tellurium with moderate to excellent yields (up to 96%) is developed. The virtue of this transformation is low catalyst loading (0.5 mol%). In addition, gram-scale experiments and the reaction mechanism are studied.

Automated summary

A new protocol for the synthesis of diselenides and ditellurides from organic iodides and elemental selenium or tellurium using a polyoxomolybdate-based copper catalyst has been developed. The reaction shows moderate to excellent yields (up to 96%) and requires low catalyst loading (0.5 mol%). Gram-scale experiments and the reaction mechanism were also investigated.