Hydroselenation of alkynes using NaBH4/BMIMBF4:: easy access to vinyl selenides

A general and easy method for the synthesis of several vinyl selenides using NaBH4 and BMIMBF4 as a recyclable solvent is described. This efficient and improved method furnishes the corresponding vinyl chalcogenides preferentially with Z configuration. We also observed that when the same protocol was applied to phenyl acetylene, (E)-bis-phenylseleno styrene was obtained in good yield and with high selectivity. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.