Indium-mediated cleavage of diphenyl diselenide and diphenyl disulfide: efficient one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical diorganyl selenides, sulfides, and selenoesters

A convenient and efficient method was developed for the synthesis of alkyl phenyl selenides, sulfides, and selenoesters in one-pot reaction by using indium metal. The reaction showed the selectivity for tert-alkyl, benzylic, and allylic halides over primary and secondary alkyl halides. For the reaction of primary and secondary alkyl iodides and bromides, the yields of selenides were improved by the addition of a catalytic amount of iodine.