A Unified Strategy for Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Benzothienopyridines, Benzoselenopyridines, and Benzotelluropyridines and Related Analogues

A transition-metal-free, unified synthetic approach has been developed for the efficient construction of benzothienopyridines, benzoselenopyridines, and benzotelluropyridines. This versatile methodology facilitates the formation of C-S, C-Se, and C-Te bonds through the cyclization reaction of readily available dihalogenated pyridyl biaryls with chalcogen sources (thiourea, elemental sulfur, selenium, or tellurium). Significantly, the derivatized products exhibit promising potential as building blocks for benzochalcogenophene-fused pyridine architectures and functional materials for organic optoelectronic applications, particularly in organic light-emitting diodes.