Hydroselenation of olefins: elucidating the β-selenium effect.

We report a light-promoted hydroselenation of alkenes with high anti -Markovnikov selectivity. Blue light activates an aryl diselenide to generate a seleno radical with subsequent addition into an alkene to form a β-seleno carbon radical. Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the selenol to the carbon radical generates the linear selenide with high selectivity in preference to the branched isomer. These studies reveal a unique β-selenium effect, where a selenide β to a carbon radical imparts high anti -selectivity for radical addition through delocalization of the HAT transition state.
Competing Interests: Principal Investigator Filipp Furche has an equity interest in TURBOMOLE GmbH. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of California, Irvine, in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.
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