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A general methodology to access valuable 4-(phenylchalcogenyl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines was developed by the reaction of 2-azidobenzaldehyde with phenylchalcogenylacetonitriles (sulfur and selenium) in the presence of potassium carbonate (20 mol%) as a catalyst. The reactions were conducted using a mixture of dimethylsulfoxide and water (7:3) as solvent at 80 °C for 4 h. This new methodology presents a good functional group tolerance to electron-deficient and electron-rich substituents, affording a total of twelve different 4-(phenylchalcogenyl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinolines selectively in moderate to excellent yields. The structure of the synthesized 4-(phenylselanyl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinoline was confirmed by X-ray analysis.

A one-pot iodine-catalyzed multicomponent reaction has been developed for the selective preparation of 5-amino-4-(arylselanyl)-1H-pyrazoles from a diverse array of benzoylacetonitriles, arylhydrazines and diaryl diselenides. The reactions were conducted in MeCN as solvent at reflux temperature under air. The methodology presents a large functional group tolerance to electron-deficient, electron-rich, and bulky substituents and gave the expected products in good to excellent yields. The synthesized 1,3-diphenyl-4-(phenylselanyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine was submitted to an oxidative dehydrogenative coupling to produce a diazo compound confirmed by X-ray analysis.

Oxone is a commercially available oxidant, composed of a mixture of three inorganic species, being the potassium peroxymonosulfate (KHSO5) the reactive one. Over the past few decades, this cheap and environmentally friendly oxidant has become a powerful tool in organic synthesis, being extensively employed to mediate the construction of a plethora of important compounds. This review summarizes the recent advances in the Oxone-mediated synthesis of N-, O- and chalcogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, through a wide diversity of reactions, starting from several kinds of substrate, highlighting the main synthetic differences, advantages, the scope and limitations.

The use of sonochemistry is described in the organocatalytic enamine–azide [3 + 2] cycloaddition between 1,3-diketones and aryl azidophenyl selenides. These sonochemically promoted reactions were found to be amenable to a range of 1,3-diketones or aryl azidophenyl selenides, providing an efficient access to new ((arylselanyl)phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)ketones in good to excellent yields and short reaction times. In addition, this protocol was extended to β-keto esters, β-keto amides and α-cyano ketones. Selanyltriazoyl carboxylates, carboxamides and carbonitriles were synthesized in high yields at short times of reaction under very mild reaction conditions.

This review presents the recent advances involving several applications of five-membered cyclic carbonates and derivatives. With more than 150 references, it covers the period from 2012 to 2020, with special emphasis on the use of five-membered cyclic carbonates as building blocks for organic synthesis and material elaboration. We demonstrate the application of cyclic carbonates in several important chemical transformations, such as decarboxylation, hydrogenation, and transesterification reactions, among others. The presence of cyclic carbonates in molecules with high biological potential is also displayed, together with the importance of these compounds in the preparation of materials such as urethanes, polyurethanes, and flame retardants.

The ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylselenite, [bmim][SeO2(OCH3)], was successfully used as solvent in the catalyst-free preparation of 3-arylselenylindoles by the reaction of indole with ArSeCl at room temperature. The products were obtained selectively in good yields without the need of any additive and the solvent was easily reused for several cycles with good results.

Background: The main constituents of Cymbopogonnardus (L) Rendle and C. citratus (DC) Stapfessential oils are (R)-citronellal and citral, respectively. Organochalcogen compounds can boost the biological activities of natural products. Methods: Several chalcogen-containing nitrones derived from (R)-citronellal and citral were prepared and evaluated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion test and the antioxidant properties were evaluated in vitro by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power) assays. Results: In the antimicrobial assay, (E)-N,3,7-trimethyl-3-(phenylthio)oct-6-en-1-imine oxide 5c exhibited halos between 21.5 mm (Escherichia coli O157:H7) and 26.0 mm (Listeria monocytogenes), while (E)-N,3,7-trimethyloct-6-en-1-imine oxide 5d presented halos between 22.5 mm (E. coli O157:H7) and 31.0 mm (L. monocytogenes). (E)-N,3,7-Trimethyl-2-(phenylthio)oct-6-en-1-imine oxide 5a showed the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value against Bacillus cereus (0.48 mM), and 5c was the most potent bactericide, with a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 0.52 mM for E. coli O157:H7. In the antioxidant assays, 5c, 5d, and 10 ((E)-3,7-dimethyl-2-(phenylselanyl)oct-6-enal oxime) were the most actives in the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, respectively. Conclusions: The presence of a phenylthio group in the nitrone increases its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative foodborne pathogens in the disk diffusion test and the antioxidant activity in vitro.

A simple and efficient protocol to prepare divinyl selenides has been developed by the regio- and stereoselective addition of sodium selenide species to aryl alkynes. The nucleophilic species was generates in situ, from the reaction of elemental selenium with NaBH4, utilizing PEG-400 as the solvent. Several divinyl selenides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields with selectivity for the (Z,Z)-isomer by a one-step procedure that was carried out at 60 °C in short reaction times. The methodology was extended to tellurium, giving the desired divinyl tellurides in good yields. Furthermore, the Fe-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of bis(3,5-dimethoxystyryl) selenide 3f with (4-methoxyphenyl)magnesium bromide 5 afforded resveratrol trimethyl ether 6 in 57% yield.

Even if water is the natural environment for bioorganic reactions, its use in organic chemistry is often severely limited by the high insolubility of the organic derivatives. In this review, we introduce some examples of the use of water to perform organoselenium chemistry. We mainly discuss the advantages of this medium when the recyclability is demonstrated and when the water can control the selectivity of a reaction or enhance the reaction rate.