Click chemistry in the synthesis of catalytically relevant organoselenium compounds: development and applications of catalysts for organic synthesis

Abstract

A variety of organoselenium compounds (containing Se donor site) have been used as ligand scaffolds for developing transition metal catalytic systems during the last two decades. Such compounds are known for their air- and moisture-insensitivity. Ligand design is an important and crucial aspect of homogeneous catalysis. A particular class of ligands emerges when it is easy and facile to carry out the modular synthesis of compounds pertaining to it. Generally, nucleophilic substitution reactions are used to design catalytically relevant organoselenium ligands. In the recent past, click chemistry, which represents efficient and reliable reactions, has also been used to develop organoselenium ligands for applications in transition metal catalysis. This perspective article describes the general features and applications of click chemistry used for the synthesis of selenium-containing compounds and their advantages over other synthetic approaches used for Se substituted ligands. Besides, it also covers the developments about the use of such ligands in the preparation of transition metal catalytic systems. Focus has also been laid down on the application of such systems in the catalysis of various chemical transformations (e.g. Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions, Heck reaction, Sonogashira coupling, oxidation of alcohols and transfer hydrogenation). Catalytic performances of such systems and variation due to a structural difference in ligand architecture have been critically analyzed.