Alkynylselenium-functionalized benzothiadiazoles: Synthesis, photophysics, electrochemistry, and biomolecular interaction studies

We describe herein our results on the synthesis of 4,7-bis((arylselanyl)ethynyl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazoles 3 by the silver-catalyzed direct selanylation of 4,7-diethynylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole 1 with diaryl diselenides. Three new compounds were obtained in good yields using 10 mol% of AgNO3 as a catalyst under mild reaction conditions. In addition, the preliminary investigation of photophysical properties of the alkynyl derivatives by UV–Vis and steady-state emission fluorescence and electrochemical behavior was also presented. The photophysical properties of the new compounds were determined and experimental and theoretical DNA/HSA binding properties were assessed.