Triselenium dicyanide from malononitrile and selenium dioxide. One-pot synthesis of selenocyanates

Triselenium dicyanide is formed by the interaction of malononitrile and selenium dioxide in dimethylsulfoxide or dimethylformamide. Addition of aromatic amines, indoles and some active methylene compounds to this reaction mixture gives the corresponding selenocyanates in one-pot. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.