Kseniya V Belyaeva, Veronika S Saliy, Lina P Nikitina, Andrei V Afonin, Igor A Ushakov, Alexander V Vashchenko, Boris A Trofimov
We have developed a multicomponent synthesis of a new family of stable selones, 3-acylarylethenyl-1-alkylimidazole-2-selones, in 28-86% yields by intercepting (MeCN, 70 °C) N-alkyl-N-alkenylimidazolium carbenes, generated in situ from substituted imidazoles and acylarylacetylenes, with elemental selenium. The basic reactivity (E/Z-photoisomerization, reduction, hydrolysis/oxidation, and oximation) of the synthesized imidazole-2-selones has been evaluated.