Synthesis of Diaryl Selenium Compounds without Transition-Metal Catalyst

A series of diaryl selenium compounds were synthetized from N-arylamide compounds and diphenyl diselenide, using K2S2O8 as oxidant without any transition metal catalyst. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction proceeds a single-electron transfer radical process. The dominant products are o-substituted and p-substituted product, depending on the stability of intermediates. The synthetic reaction exhibits some outstanding advantages, such as substrate tolerance, high regioselectivity, convenience and low-price.