KI catalyzed azidoselenenylation of alkenes with sodium azide and diselenides via an oxidative cleavage of Se–Se bond.

Using potassium iodide as a catalyst andm-chloroperbenzoic acid as an oxidant, an efficient catalytic procedure has been developed for the azidoselenenylation of alkenes with sodium azide and diselenides, and a series of corresponding β-azidoselenides, most of which are new compounds, have been prepared in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions. This in situ generation of the electrophilic selenenylating reagents with addition to alkenes is a stereospecificantiaddition, which occurs with a Markovnikov orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]