A sustainable approach for the bis-selenylation of alkynes: Design, synthesis and mechanistic studies

Abstract

Herein we report an efficient and eco-friendly methodology for the selective synthesis of 1,2-bis-organylselanyl alkenes from diorganyl diselenides and terminal alkynes. In this regard, the use of the water extract of rice straw ash (WERSA) proved to be an efficient reaction media promoting the synthesis of the desired compounds in up to 97 % yield with reasonable stereoselectivity. Furthermore, the combination of experimental studies and DFT calculations enabled us to propose a plausible reaction pathway.