Electrochemically driven regioselective organoselenation for selective synthesis of β- hydroxy substituted selanylated ketones

A simple yet efficient approach towards the synthesis of β-hydroxy selanylated ketones was developed from easily accessible chalcones and diphenyl diselenide through an electrochemical pathway. In this technique, diphenyl diselenide and water are the source of PhSe. and hydroxyl (–OH) groups that can be inserted at the α and β positions respectively producing β-hydroxy selanylated ketones in moderate to good yields. The reaction features difunctionalization of ketones, catalyst free, mild reaction conditions, stereo and regioselectivity in an undivided electrochemical cell at room temperature. For this transformation, a plausible radical mechanism has been put out.