Potassium bromide or sodium chloride catalyzed acetoxyselenenylation of alkenes with diselenides and mCPBA

KBr or NaCl is found to be a good catalyst in Se-Se bond cleavage of diselenides in the present of the oxidant mCPBA. The electrophilic addition of the in situ generated reactive electrophilic selenium species PhSeX (X=Br, Cl) to alkenes in AcOH provides a convenient access to 2-acetoxy-1-selenides. Compared with other catalysts, KBr or NaCl is less expensive and more environment-friendly.