Metathesis and the building block approach to novel layered copper oxyselenides – useful tool or synthetic dead-end?

The use of metathesis, or ionic double displacement reactions, for the synthesis of layered copper oxyselenides is explored, and compared to the conventional solid state reaction approach across a range of temperatures. We have determined that metathesis does offer some advantages in product selectivity at low temperature but due to more complex synthetic requirements does not warrant more widespread adoption.