Efficient Synthesis of 1,4-Bis-heteroatom-substituted Tetraselanylbenzenes via 1,4-Dilithiation of Hexaselanylbenzene and Investigation on Their Electronic Properties.

We successfully synthesized mono- and bis-substituted polyselanylbenzenes 3 and 5 via mono- and dilithiation of hexakis(phenylselanyl)benzene (1), respectively. Introduction of various heteroatom functionalities into hexaselanylbenzene changed the electronic properties dependent on the σ-symmetric circular orbitals that were formed by the interactions between neighboring heteroatoms. In the cyclic voltammetry and theoretical studies on bis-heteroatom-substituted benzenes 5, the extent of the interactions in the circular orbitals with σ-symmetry affected the stability of the cationic species of 5. This study would give insight into the molecular design for new σ-delocalized systems and inspire the development of tuning electronic properties of benzene derivatives by σ-type orbital interactions derived from heteroatom functionalities.