Visible light-promoted, iodine-catalyzed selenoalkoxylation of olefins with diselenides and alcohols in the presence of hydrogen peroxide/air oxidant: an efficient access to α-alkoxyl selenides

Under iodine-catalyzed and visible light-irradiated aerobic conditions, selenoalkoxylation of olefins with diselenides and alcohols can be efficiently achieved to afford the useful alpha-alkoxyl selenides in the presence of only 0.5 equiv. of H2O2. Controlling the sub-stoichiometric H2O2 amount is crucial to avoid the non-selective over-oxidation of the diselenides that leads to the ineffective hyper-valent selenium compounds. Meanwhile, under visible light irradiation, the green, safe, and low-cost air can work as a supplemental mild oxidant in the reaction to ensure selective oxidation of the diselenides, full conversion of the reactants, and ultimately good yield of the products.