Palladium-catalyzed hydroselenation of allenes with benzeneselenol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01024-7

Palladium(II) acetate (Pd(OAc)₂) catalyzes the addition of benzeneselenol to allenes, providing the corresponding vinylic selenides in good yields. In contrast to the oxygen-induced radical addition of PhSell to terminal allenes, which occurred at the terminal double bond preferentially, the present palladium-catalyzed hydroselenation to terminal allenes affords the internal adduct preferentially; thus, these two reactions are complementary to each other for the synthesis of vinylic selenides.