We describe herein an alternative transition-metal-free procedure to access 3,4-bis(butylselanyl)selenophenes and the so far unprecedented 3-(butylselanyl)-4-alkoxyselenophenes. The protocol involves the 5-endo-dig electrophilic cyclization of 1,3-diynes promoted by electrophilic organoselenium species, generated in situ through the oxidative cleavage of the Se-Se bond of dibutyl diselenide using Oxone® as a green oxidant. The selective formation of the title products was achieved by controlling the solvent identity and the amount of dibutyl diselenide. By using 4.0 equiv of dibutyl diselenide and acetonitrile as solvent at 80 °C, four examples of 3,4-bis(butylselanyl)selenophenes were obtained in moderate to good yields (40–78%). When 3.0 equiv of dibutyl diselenide were used, in the presence of aliphatic alcohols as solvent/nucleophiles under reflux, 10 3-(butylselanyl)-4-alkoxyselenophenes were selectively obtained in low to good yields (15–80%).

We describe herein an alternative and transition-metal-free procedure for the access of benzo[b]chalcogenophenes fused to selenophenes via intramolecular cyclization of 1,3-diynes promoted by Oxone®.