Generation of ArS- and ArSe-Substituted 4-Quinolone Derivatives Using Sodium Iodide As an Inducer

An operationally simple sodium iodide-mediated C–S and C–Se bond formation protocol involving substituted 4-quinolone and thiols/diselenide to generate different ArS/ArSe-substituted 4-quinolone derivatives in excellent yields was developed. The versatility of this methodology has been successfully demonstrated by extension of the suitable reaction conditions to both substrates having different substituents. This regioselective C–H bond activation approach provides a direct access of structurally diverse 3-sulfenylated/selenylated 4-quinolone derivatives. Moreover, this new method proceeds without a transition-metal catalyst and prerequisite NH protection of 4-quinolone derivatives.