Copper(I)-catalyzed highly efficient synthesis of benzoselenazoles and benzotellurazoles.

A simple and practical useful synthetic method of 1,3-benzoselenazoles having a heteroatom substituent such as NRR', OR, and SR groups at the 2-position was developed by the copper(I)-catalyzed reaction of 2-bromophenyl (1) or 2-iodophenyl (2) isocyanides with selenium and heteroatom nucleophiles. In addition, the synthesis of 2-amino-1,3-benzotellurazoles is also described.