Regioselective electrophilic cyclization of o-ethynylbenzyl phenyl selenides to (Z)-1-methylidene-2-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[c]selenophenium salts

o-Ethynylbenzyl phenyl selenides regioselectively reacted with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid to afford the (Z)-1-methylidene-2-phenyl-1,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[c]selenophenium salts as the major products during the 5-exo-dig mode cyclization in good yields together with minor E isomers. The structure of the major (Z)-selenophenium salt was established by the single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis using a tert-butyl derivative.