Electrophotocatalysis Versus Indirect Electrolysis: Electrochemical Selenocyclization of 3‐Aza‐1,5‐dienes Facilitated by Energy Transfer, Direct Photolysis or N‐Hydroxyphthalimide

Abstract

Three hybrid electrochemical protocols, which involve the energy transfer, direct photolysis and N‐hydroxyphthalimide catalyst, respectively, are presented for the selenylation/cyclization of the fragile substrates of 3‐aza‐1,5‐dienes with diorganyl diselenides to afford 3‐selenomethyl‐4‐pyrrolin‐2‐ones. The two electrophotocatalytic reactions and the indirect electrolysis one are both regioselective and external‐oxidant‐ and transition‐metal‐free, and are associated with a broad substrate scope and high Se‐economy, and all three methods are amenable to gram‐scale syntheses, late‐stage functionalizations, sunlight‐induced experiments and all‐solar‐driven syntheses.