Iodine‐Mediated Regioselective Radical Cyclization of o‐Vinylaryl Isocyanides with Disulfides/Diselenides Leading to 2‐Chalcogenated Quinolines

An iodine-mediated radical cyclization of o-vinylaryl isocyanides with disulfides or diselenides was developed. The atom-economic reaction provides a method for regioselective construction of the 2-chalcogenated quinolines in 42-93% yields by incorporation of both chalcogen atoms of disulfides or diselenides into quinolines.