A highly efficient and reusable MCM-41-immobilized bipyridine copper(i) catalyst for the C–Se coupling of organoboronic acids with diaryl diselenides

Abstract

A highly efficient MCM-41-immobilized bipyridine copper(I) complex [MCM-41-bpy-CuI] was prepared from 4,4′-bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propylaminomethyl]-2,2′-bipyridine via immobilization on the mesoporous material MCM-41, followed by reaction with CuI. In the presence of 5 mol% MCM-41-bpy-CuI, the cross-coupling reaction of organoboronic acids with diaryl diselenides proceeded smoothly in DMSO/H₂O (2/1) at 110 °C under air to afford a variety of diorganyl selenides in good to excellent yields. This heterogeneous copper catalyst can be recovered and recycled by a simple filtration of the reaction solution and used for at least 10 consecutive trials without any decrease in activity.