Acid-catalyzed oxidative cleavage of S–S and Se–Se bonds with DEAD: efficient access to sulfides and selenides

An acid/DEAD system for oxidative cleavage of S–S and Se–Se bonds to generate chalcogenium ions has been developed. These ions could be captured by nucleophile-tethered alkenes and nucleophilic aryl reagents such as arylboronic acids and arenes to give chalcogenides.