Nano Copper Oxide Catalyzed Synthesis of Symmetrical Diaryl Selenides via Cascade Reaction of KSeCN with Aryl Halides

An unprecedented transfer of selenium ion from potassium selenocyanate was observed in C-Se cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by copper oxide nanoparticles under ligand-free conditions. Utilizing this protocol wide range of symmetrical diaryl selenides were obtained in excellent yields. Nano-CuO is recyclable up to four cycles without loss of catalytic activity.