Access to 3-alkylselenindoles by multicomponent reaction of indoles, selenium powder and unactivated alkyl halides under transition-metal-free conditions

Abstract

Herein, we reported a convenient and efficient multicomponent reaction of indoles, selenium powder and unactivated alkyl halides. This protocol provides a practical, and facile approach for the synthesis of 3-alkylselenindole derivatives. The advantages of this strategy include mild and transition-metal-free conditions, broad functional group tolerance, the use of simple and easily accessible seleniium powder and alkyl halides as coupling partners. More importantly, the reaction proceeded smoothly with a large scale (>10 g, >90% yield), which further highlighted the potential application of this selenation strategy.