Regioselective C-H Selenylation of Heteroarenes Under Metal-free Conditions

Selenium-containing heteroarenes consist of a synthetically valuable family of compounds that found applications in many different areas, such as organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and optoelectronic devices construction. Over the past decade, many advances have been achieved to the synthesis of these substances, and this review aims to cover a literature survey of the direct selenylation of heteroarenes under metal-free conditions, which represents one of the most powerful synthetic strategies for the preparation of those target molecules. The construction of new C-Se bonds through selective C-H functionalization reactions has become useful and atom-economical. The widespread adoption of metalfree approaches has emerged as a versatile, sustainable, and safe access to these organoselenium compounds. Among the features of these new protocols is the use of mild oxidants and A R T I C L E H I S T O R Y halogen-based catalysts, inorganic bases, as well as photo-induced reactions, and electrosynthesis.