Synthesis and anticancer activity of bis(2-arylimidazo[1,2-]pyridin-3-yl) selenides and diselenides: the copper-catalyzed tandem C-H selenation of 2-arylimidazo[1,2-]pyridine with selenium.

Most heteroaryl selenides and diselenides are biologically active, with some reported to act as antioxidants and show activities that are medicinally relevant; hence, the development of efficient methods for their synthesis is an important objective. Herein, a simple method for the synthesis of selenides and diselenides bearing imidazo[1,2-]pyridine rings and their anticancer activity are described. The double C-H selenation of imidazo[1,2-]pyridine with Se powder was catalyzed by CuI (10 mol %) ligated with 1,10-phenanthroline (10 mol %) at 130 °C under aerobic conditions.