VISIBLE-LIGHT-PROMOTED Se-ARYLATION OF DIARYL DISELENIDES WITH 2-PHENYLIMIDAZOPYRIDINES IN THE PRESENCE OF AMMONIUM IODIDE: SYNTHESIS OF 2-PHENYL-3-(ARYLSELANYL)IMIDAZO[1,2-a]PYRIDINES

Photoreaction of diaryl diselenides and 2-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in the presence of ammonium iodide (20 mol%) using blue LED light led to the formation of 3-(arylselanyl)imidazopyridines in good-to-excellent yields under aerobic conditions. By using various diselenides, this reaction efficiently introduces the selanyl group at the 3-position of the imidazopyridine scaffold.