Herein, we report an efficient methodology
for the synthesis of
alkyl, benzyl, and phenyl selenoethers of aminopyrazoles and aminouracils
by C(sp2)–H functionalization in the presence of
visible light and Rose Bengal as an organophotocatalyst. The reaction
of amino pyrazole/iosothiazole/isoxazole or amino uracils with 0.5
equivalent of diphenyl/dibenzyl/diethyl diselenides in the presence
of visible light in acetonitrile medium and a catalytic amount of
Rose Bengal provided the corresponding phenyl, benzyl, or ethyl selenoethers
in good to very good yields. We have also utilized some of the selenylated
aminopyrazoles for the preparation of pyrazole-fused dihydropyrimidines
tethered with arylselenoethers by a catalyst-free one-pot three-component
reaction. The notable features of this methodology are metal-free
reaction conditions, good to very good yields, use of an organic photocatalyst,
and wide substrate scope; it is also applicable to gram-scale synthesis
and provides selenoethers of medicinally important heterocycles such
amio-pyrazole, isoxazole, isothiazole, and uracils.