Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of alkali metals diselenides (M2Se2) and their application for the gram-scale preparation of 2,2’-diselenobis(benzoic acid)

Abstract

A simple and efficient method to convert elemental selenium into alkali metal diselenide was developed. The use of selenium and metal borohydride in a molar ratio of 1 to 0.125 in the presence of base, under “on water” conditions and ultrasound activation permitted the reduction of Se into Se22- to be completed within minutes. Thus obtained metal diselenide aqueous solution was then used in the multigram scale synthesis of 2,2’-diselenobis(benzoic acid) (DSBA) a valuable building block for the development of diverse and pivotal selenorganic compounds.