Thiol/Diselenide Exchange for the Generation of Benzeneselenolate Ion. Catalytic Reductive Ring-Opening of α,β-Epoxy Ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00097a019

In the presence of N-acetylcysteine sodium salt, benzeneselenolate ion was generated in situ from diphenyl diselenide via thiol/diselenide and thiol/selenenyl sulfide exchange in aqueous methanol under mild conditions.Benzeneselenolate ion thus formed was efficiently alkylated and arylated to afford alkyl phenyl selenides and aryl phenyl selenides, respectively. α,β-Epoxy ketones were catalytically reduced by benzeneselenolate ion to afford β-hydroxy ketones (aldols) in good yields.The stereospecificity of the reaction was demonstrated in the preparation of optically active β-hydroxy ketones from chiral α,β-epoxy ketones.