Selenomethoxylation of Alkenes Promoted by Oxone

We describe herein an alternative method for the selenomethoxylation of unactivated alkenes using Oxone® as a stoichiometric oxidant. The electrophilic species of selenium were easily generated in situ by the reaction of diorganyl diselenides with Oxone®. By this efficient and simple approach, β‐methoxy‐selenides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields at room temperature in an open flask, starting from alkenes by using methanol as both nucleophile and solvent. When a mixture of H2O/CH3CN was employed as the solvent, β‐hydroxy‐selenides were selectively obtained under mild conditions. We describe herein an alternative method for the selenomethoxylation of unactivated alkenes using Oxone® as a stoichiometric oxidant. β‐Methoxy‐selenides were obtained from alkenes in moderate to excellent yields in an open flask, by using methanol as both the nucleophile and the solvent. With use of H2O/CH3CN as the solvent, β‐hydroxy‐selenides were selectively obtained under mild conditions.