Rose Bengal catalysed photo-induced selenylation of indoles, imidazoles and arenes: a metal free approach

In this report, the highly efficient Rose Bengal-catalysed C(sp(2))-H selenylation of indoles, imidazoles and arenes was achieved using a half molar equiv. of diorganoyl diselenides. This metal-free, photo-induced protocol resulted in selenylated products in good to excellent yields. The reaction features are high yields, an atom-economic, gram-scalable and metal-free approach, and applicability to different biologically relevant (hetero) arenes.