Reactions of 1,1-diarylethylenes with selenium compounds

Abstract

The synthesis of substituted benzoselenopheno[2,3-b]benzoselenophens from 1,1-diarylethylenes was achieved in much higher yields with diselenium dichloride than with seleninyl chloride. 1,1-Bis-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-ethylene with either selenium tetrachloride or diselenium dichloride yielded the corresponding 2,2-diarylvinyl selenide; reactions of other diarylethylenes with selenium tetrachloride or tetrabromide gave selenium-free products. The reaction with seleninyl chloride was extended to yield a di-1-benzoselenopheno[2,3-b:2′,3′-b′]benzodiselenophen.