The organoselenium-mediated reduction of α,β-epoxy ketones, α,β-epoxy esters, and their congeners to β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds: Novel methodologies for the synthesis of aldols and their analogues

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(97)00781-3

Novel methods for the reduction of α,β-epoxy ketones, α,β-epoxy esters (glycidic esters), and their congeners to β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds (aldols) by the use of organoselenium reagents are described. The reagents, a sodium phenylseleno(triethyl)borate complex Na[PhSeB(OEt)₃] easily prepared by reduction of (PhSe)₂ with NaBH₄ in EtOH and benzeneselenol (PhSeH) generated in situ from the borate complex by addition of acetic acid, have been demonstrated to serve as excellent reducing agents for these transformations. The organoselenium-mediated reduction of α,β-epoxy carbonyl compounds regiospecifically occurs at the α-carbon to produce a wide variety of cyclic (intramolecular) aldols as well as acyclic (intermolecular) ones in excellent yields. Quantitative mechanistic studies have revealed that the organoselenium-mediated reduction proceeds via an α-substitution process in contrast to the common electron transfer reducing agents.