Herein, we report the Fe(III)-promoted
linear intramolecular cascade
cyclization of 1,3-diyne and 1,3,5-triyne for the construction of
selenophene-fused, quinoline-based heteroacene scaffolds. In one step,
1,3-diyne and 1,3,5-triyne were cyclized via diversified internal
nucleophiles by using diorganyl diselenides. The diorganyl diselenide
plays dual role, one as a cyclizing agent and second as insertion
of one and/or two selenium atom and one R′-Se group in the
final product. This is highly important in terms of atom economy.
Diversified internal nucleophiles were used to afford quinoline- and
acridine-based cores. The synthesized selenophene-fused derivatives
showed λmax, F
max, and
Φf values in the range from 370–411 nm, 427–472
nm, and 0.003–0.059, respectively, in dichloromethane solvent.