A simple, clean and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of alpha-phenylselenoacrylonitriles and alpha-phenylseleno-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters by a one-pot reaction of aldehydes with phenylselenoacetonitrile or ethyl(phenylseleno)acetate respectively, in the presence of a solid supported catalyst (KF/Al2O3), without any solvent.
solvent-free reaction; Knoevenagel condensation; phenylselenoacrylonitriles
