Platinum-Catalyzed Multisubstituted Benzo[b]selenophene Synthesis

Alkyl ortho-alkynylphenyl selenides 1 were efficiently converted into 2,3-disubstitiited benzo[b]selenophenes 2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of PtCl2. The reactions were shown to proceed via carboselenation, specifically the addition of a C-Se bond to the alkynes. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)