N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI)-mediated rapid regioselective oxyselenation of internal alkenes with diselenides

Abstract A rapid and efficient NFSI-mediated hydroxy or alkoxy-selenation of internal alkenes and chalcones is presented. This reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature and features broad substrate scope, which employs NFSI as the oxidizing agent, affording β-hydroxy(alkoxy)selenides with excellent yields and high regioselectivity. An electrophilic mechanism is proposed for the transformation.