An electrochemical cascade process: synthesis of 3-selenylindoles from 2-alkynylanilines with diselenides.

Substituted organoselenium compounds are crucial structural motifs in pharmaceutical molecules. Herein, we report a metal, oxidant, and base-free electrochemical approach to access 3-selenylindoles through an oxidative cyclization of 2-alkynylanilines with diselenides. This environmentally friendly approach demonstrates a wide range of substrate scope under mild reaction conditions in an electrochemical undivided cell setup.