Synthesis of tetrasubstituted selenophenes by DBU-induced sequential three-component coupling and intramolecular cyclization

Abstract

The DBU-promoted three-component cascade annulation of 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanenitriles, (E)-chalcones and elemental selenium has been proposed for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted selenophenes. Preliminary mechanism explorations and photochemical performance studies of selenophenes have also been conducted. This protocol possesses some advantages over traditional methods for synthesizing selenophenes in terms of readily available and inexpensive substrates, metal catalyst-free, simple and easy to operate reaction conditions, and step and atom economy.