# Visible Light-Mediated Synthesis of Chalcogen-Decorated 2,3-Dihydrobenzofurans in the Absence of Photocatalyst and Oxidants

## TL;DR

A new eco-friendly method uses visible light to create chalcogen-decorated 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans without needing a photocatalyst or oxidants.

## Contribution

The method introduces a sustainable, catalyst-free, and oxidant-free synthesis of chalcogen-decorated 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans under visible light.

## Key findings

- Eighteen derivatives were synthesized with yields ranging from 20% to 96%.
- The method is scalable and tolerant to various aryl substituents.
- Electron-withdrawing groups reduce the reaction efficiency.

## Abstract

A sustainable visible
light-promoted protocol for preparing selenium-
and sulfur-decorated 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans from 2-allylphenols and
diorganyl dichalcogenides is reported. The reaction proceeds under
blue LEDs irradiation (Kessil PR160L, λmax = 440
nm) under mild conditions, in the absence of photocatalysts or oxidants,
in accordance with the green chemistry principles. Eighteen derivatives
were obtained, covering electron-rich, electron-deficient, and polycyclic
systems, with yields from 20% to 96%. The method is operationally
simple, scalable, and tolerant to diverse aryl substituents, although
the presence of electron-withdrawing groups reduces its efficiency.
This approach offers an ecofriendly alternative to conventional oxidative
or photocatalyst-mediated strategies to prepare the target molecules,
opening new opportunities for advancing organoselenium chemistry and
exploring its potential in organic synthesis.