Improved solubility and stability of trialkylammonium selenocarboxylate in organic solvents for efficient amidation with azides

Trialkylammonium selenocarboxylate, formed in situ from the reaction of diacyl diselenide with piperidine in the presence of diisopropylethylamine, was found to react readily at room temperature with electron-deficient azides to form amides in excellent yields. The trialkylammonium selenocarboxylate salt formed has good solubility and stability in organic solvents. The enhanced stability allowed mild heating to improve the amidation yields with electron-rich azides.