Syntheses of dibenzo[c,e][1,2]diselenin and related novel chalcogenide heterocyclic compounds

Reaction of 2,2′‐dilithio‐1,1′‐binaphthyl with selenium followed by air oxidation gives a mixture of dinaph‐thoselenophene and dimer and oligomers of 2,2′‐diseleno‐1,1′‐binaphthyl. 2,2′‐Dilithio‐1,1′‐biphenyl reacts with selenium to afford dibenzo[c,e][1,2]diselenin. Structures of the dimeric 2,2′‐diseleno‐1,1′‐binaphthyl and dibenzo[c,e][1,2]diselenin have been confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic analyses. Similar reaction of 2,2′‐dilithio‐1,1′‐binaphthyl with sulfur or tellurium gives a mixture of dinaphthothiophene and dinaphtho[2,1‐c:‐1′,2′‐e][1,2]dithiin or a mixture of dinaphthotellurophene and oligomer of 2,2′‐ditelluro‐1,1′‐binaphthyl, respectively. Dibenzotellurophene and oligomer of 2,2′‐ditelluro‐1,1′‐biphenyl are obtained from reaction of 2,2′‐dilithio‐1,1′‐biphenyl with tellurium.