A novel metal-free method for the selenocyanation of aromatic ketones to afford α-carbonyl selenocyanates

Abstract

A new method has been developed for the selenocyanation of aromatic ketones. This reaction avoids the need to use pre-prepared α-halo ketones, providing rapid access to α-carbonyl selenocyanates. We also investigated the mechanism for this reaction and found that it proceeds via sequential radical iodination and nucleophilic substitution reactions.