A method to synthesize benzofurylselenocyanates, benzothienylselenocyanates and indolylselenocyanates via electrophilic selenocyanogen cyclization was established. This sequential process was conducted under mild conditions in a short time. This protocol was successfully applied to latestage functionalization of bioactive molecules. Notablely, the selenocyanate can be converted into other valuable Se-containing compounds and showed antitumor activity to human hepatoma cells HepG2.

A practical strategy for the synthesis of spiro[5.5]­trienones-fused selenocyanates and spiro[4.5]­trienones-fused selenocyanates through electrophilic selenocyanogen cyclization and dearomative spirocyclization is reported. This approach was conducted under mild conditions with broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. The utility of this procedure is exhibited in the late-stage functionalization of nature product and drug molecules.