Pyridylseleno Group in Organic Synthesis. Preparation and Oxidation of α-(2-Pyridylseleno) Carbonyl Compounds Leading to α,β-Unsaturated Ketones and Aldehydes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00194a024

α-(2-Pyridylseleno) carbonyl compounds (A) were prepared by the reaction of ketones or aldehydes with 2-pyridylselenenyl bromide under various conditions (acidic, basic, or after conversion to silyl enol ethers) in good to excellent yields.Oxidation of A thus prepared affords α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in excellent yields even in the cases where satisfactory results were not obtained by the oxidation of the corresponding α-phenylseleno carbonyl compounds.These results indicate that the 2-pyridylseleno group is a better leaving group than the phenylseleno group in selenoxide elimination leading to enones.