Efficient Synthesis of Selenocarbonyl Compounds by Treating Carbonyl Compounds with Bis(1,5-cyclooctanediylboryl) Selenide

Abstract Selenoaldehydes and selenoketones were generated in situ, by treating aldehydes or ketones, respectively, with bis(1,5-cyclooctanediylboryl) selenide; the resulting selenocarbonyl compounds were trapped with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene to give the corresponding [4+2] cycloadducts. The treatment of amides, an ester, and ketones possessing bulky substituents with the reagent also afforded the corresponding selenoamides, a selenoester, and sterically protected selones, respectively, in modest yields. On the other hand, a similar treatment of cinnamaldehyde with the reagent gave the 2,3-dihydroselenophene derivative, which originated from a [4+2]-type self-dimerization of in situ generated 3-phenyl-2-propeneselenal.