Recent synthetic approaches towards selenophene scaffolds

Selenophenes are a special family of heterocyclic compounds present in several bioactive molecules and organic functional materials. In the past decade, several synthetic methodologies using harsh conditions were applied to their synthesis. In recent years, methods based on cheap reagents, mild and safer conditions, minimized steps, and high efficiency have been reported to produce diversely functionalized five-membered selenium rings. The present chapter is intended to review the most recent synthetic advances to furnish selenophene derivatives, their reactivity toward Pd-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization, and the preparation of selenoacenes.