Silver-Mediated Regioselective Pyridyl C(sp2)-H Chalcogenation.

Here, we present a highly regioselective chalcogenation of pyridines, pyrimidines, and isoquinolines using readily available dichalcogenides. This transformation operates under simple conditions, tolerates a wide range of functional groups, and renders these processes applicable to the late-stage functionalization of drugs. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that a single-electron transfer (SET) pathway is likely involved in this chalcogenation reaction.