Phenylselenium Trichloride in Organic Synthesis. Reaction with Unsaturated Compounds. Preparation of Vinylic Chlorides via Selenoxide Elimination

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00227a026

Phenylselenium trichloride, PhSeCl3, was reacted with a number olefinic compounds to produce (β-chloroalkyl)phenylselenium dichlorides.The addition was anti stereospecific and irreversible.The presence of an oxygen substituent (acyloxy or aryloxy group) in the allylic position of the olefin directed the attack of PhSeCl3 to occur regiospecifically anti-Markovnikov to give a (β-acyloxy/aryloxy-β'-chloroalkyl)phenylselenium dichloride.When the (β-chloroalkyl)phenylselenium dichlorides were treated in methylene chloride with aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate, the selenium dichloride moiety was readily hydrolyzed to a selenoxide, which underwent the usual selenoxide elimination reaction to produce an allylic or a vinylic chloride.Symmetrical olefins containing no allylic hydrogens were converted to vinylic chlorides with retention of olefin geometry.Olefins containing a directing oxygen substituent in the allylic position afforded vinylic chlorides where the vinylic halogen atom was oriented 1,3 to the oxygen substituent (E/Z mixture).Other olefins afforded mixtures of allylic and vinylic halides in varying proportions.The reaction of phenyselenium tribromide, PhSeBr3, with some olefinic compounds was also investigated.This material showed the same stereo- and regiochemical behavior as PhSeCl3 in its addition reactions.However, the adducts were not useful for the preparation of vinylic or allylic bromides by using the hydrolytic selenoxide elimination reaction.