Synthesis of 3-selanylbenzo[b]furans promoted by SelectFluor®

A simple and practical protocol for the synthesis of 3-selanyl-benzo[b]furans mediated by the SelectFluor® reagent was developed. This novel methodology provided a greener alternative to generate 3-substituted-benzo[b]furans via a metal-free procedure under mild conditions. The intramolecular cyclization reaction was carried out employing an electrophilic selenium species generated in situ through the reaction between SelectFluor® and organic diselenides. The formation of this electrophilic selenium species (RSe-F) was confirmed by heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy, and its reactivity was explored.