Direct Electrooxidative Selenylation/Cyclization of Alkynes: Access to Functionalized Benzo[ b ]furans.

A mild, practical, metal and oxidant-free methodology for the synthesis of various C-3 selenylated benzo[ b ]furan derivatives was developed through the intramolecular cyclization of alkynes promoted with diselenides via electrooxidation. A wide range of selenium-substituted benzo[ b ]furan derivatives were obtained in good to excellent yields with high regioselectivity under constant current in an undivided cell equipped with carbon and platinum plates as the anode and cathode, respectively. Moreover, the convergent approach exhibited good functional group tolerance and could be easily scaled up with good efficiency, providing rapid access to a diverse range of selenylated benzo[ b ]furans derivatives from simple, readily available starting materials.