I2-promoted direct C–H arylselenylation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines

An I₂-promoted C–H arylselenylation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines with diaryl diselenides is developed, providing an efficient route to a series of 1 (or 3)-arylselenylated and/or 1,3-diaryl diselenylated pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines. The methodology is characterised by a wide range of substrates, good functional group tolerance and gram-level synthesis. Further transformations of the products to form structurally diverse pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines were successfully achieved. Similarly, I₂-promoted C–H sulfenylation of pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline with 1,2-diphenyldisulfane were investigated. We believe that these novel pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline compounds will have promising applications in pharmaceutical synthesis.