Copper-catalyzed one-pot tandem synthesis of unsymmetrical diaryl chalcogenides from two different aryl iodides

Abstract

Unsymmetrical diaryl chalcogenides were synthesized by a novel one-pot tandem process from two different aryl iodides. A symmetrical diaryl dichalcogenide (ArEEAr, E=Se or Te) was initially obtained by a Cu2O-cataylzed coupling reaction of ArI with elemental selenium or tellurium in the presence of KOH. Without purification, it was subsequently coupled with a different aryl iodide (Ar′I) to give the unsymmetrical diaryl chalcogenides (ArEAr′) in good yields.