Nucleophilic cleavage of lactones and esters with zinc selenolates prepared from diselenides in the presence of Zn/AlCl3

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.tetlet.2008.11.036

The utility of zinc selenolates for effecting nucleophilic cleavage of simple lactones and esters has been investigated. When zinc selenolate generated via Zn/AlCl₃-promoted cleavage of diselenides was reacted with simple lactones and esters, efficient nucleophilic alkyl-oxygen bond cleavage proceeded generating the corresponding carboxylic acids in moderate to excellent yields.