Convenient synthesis of selenyl-indoles via iodide ion-catalyzed electrochemical C-H selenation.

Reported herein is a transition metal- and oxidant-free method for the synthesis of selenyl heteroarenes with diselenides through iodide ion-catalyzed electrolytic selenation. This direct C(sp2)-H selenation strategy, with reduced environmental impact, provides efficient access to a host of selenyl indoles and some other N-heteroarenes under aerobic and galvanostatic conditions.