Electrochemical Radical Selenylation of Alkenes and Arenes via Se-Se Bond Activation.

A novel electrochemical radical selenylation of alkenes and activated arenes without external oxidants is reported. The diselenide was fully transformed into Se-centered radicals through electrochemical Se-Se bond activation. Three-component radical carbonselenation was successfully realized using styrenes to trap the RSe radical. Besides, the direct coupling of RSe radicals with activated arenes was further developed. Using this atom-economic protocol, diversity of unsymmetric aryl-aryl, aryl-alkyl, and alkyl-alkyl selenoethers was obtained regioselectively, which has potential application in biological chemistry.