Synthesis of selenoacetals

The Chemistry of Selenosilanes: A Topic Overview

Selenium-containing molecules represent a valuable class of compounds with a variety of applications in chemical and biological fields. Selenated reagents are used as intermediates to introduce functional groups (e.g., double bonds) onto different substrates or in the synthesis of various selenated derivatives. Among the variety of selenium-containing reagents, silyl selenides are frequently used to transfer a selenated moiety due to the smooth functionalization of the Se-Si bond, which allows for the generation of selenium nucleophilic species under mild conditions. While the use of the analogous sulfur nucleophiles, namely silyl sulfides, has been widely explored, a relatively limited number of reports on selenosilanes have been provided. This contribution will focus on the application of selenosilanes as nucleophiles in a variety of organic transformations, as well as under radical and redox conditions. The use of silyl selenides to prepare metal complexes and as selenium precursors of materials for atomic layer deposition will also be discussed.

Mechanochemical synthesis of organoselenium compounds

We disclose herein a strategy for the rapid synthesis of versatile organoselenium compounds under mild conditions. In this work, magnesium-based selenium nucleophiles are formed in situ from easily available organic halides, magnesium metal, and elemental selenium via mechanical stimulation. This process occurs under liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) conditions, requires no complicated pre-activation procedures, and operates broadly across a diverse range of aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl substrates. In this work, symmetrical diselenides are efficiently obtained after work-up in the air, while one-pot nucleophilic addition reactions with various electrophiles allow the comprehensive synthesis of unsymmetrical monoselenides with high functional group tolerance. Notably, the method is applied to regioselective selenylation reactions of diiodoarenes and polyaromatic aryl halides that are difficult to operate via solution approaches. Besides selenium, elemental sulfur and tellurium are also competent in this process, which showcases the potential of the methodology for the facile synthesis of organochalcogen compounds.

Quantum chemical calculations of 77 Se and 125 Te nuclear magnetic resonance spectral parameters and their structural applications

An accurate quantum chemical (QC) modeling of ⁷⁷ Se and ¹²⁵ Te nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra is deeply involved in the NMR structural assignment for selenium and tellurium compounds that are of utmost importance both in organic and inorganic chemistry nowadays due to their huge application potential in many fields, like biology, medicine, and metallurgy. The main interest of this review is focused on the progress in QC computations of ⁷⁷ Se and ¹²⁵ Te NMR chemical shifts and indirect spin-spin coupling constants involving these nuclei. Different computational methodologies that have been used to simulate the NMR spectra of selenium and tellurium compounds since the middle of the 1990s are discussed with a strong emphasis on their accuracy. A special accent is placed on the calculations resorting to the relativistic methodologies, because taking into account the relativistic effects appreciably influences the precision of NMR calculations of selenium and, especially, tellurium compounds. Stereochemical applications of quantum chemical calculations of ⁷⁷ Se and ¹²⁵ Te NMR parameters are discussed so as to exemplify the importance of integrated approach of experimental and computational NMR techniques.

Sulphur–sulphur, sulphur–selenium, selenium–selenium and selenium–carbon bond activation using Fe3(CO)12: an unexpected formation of an Fe2(CO)6 complex containing a μ2,κ3-C,O,Se-ligand

Four diiron hexacarbonyl-complexes containing dithiolato (5), diselenolato (6), selenolato-thiolato (7) and μ²,κ³-C,O,Se-ligands (8), respectively have been prepared as [FeFe]-hydrogenase mimics.

Atom-economical selenation of electron-rich arenes and phosphonates with molecular oxygen at room temperature

An environmentally benign selenation of electron-rich arenes and phosphonates is developed adopting a novel recycle–reuse–reduce strategy for selenol by oxygen.

Palladium-Catalyzed Markovnikov-Selective Hydroselenation of N-Vinyl Lactams with Selenols Affording N,Se-Acetals

The highly regioselective hydroselenation of N-vinyl lactams has been revealed to successfully afford the corresponding N,Se-acetals as Markovnikov adducts. In the case of terminal N-vinyl lactams, Markovnikov-selective hydroselenation proceeds efficiently in the absence of any catalyst (or additive), owing to the acidity of the selenols. In contrast, the self-promoted hydroselenation is inefficient with internal N-vinyl lactams. In the presence of palladium diacetate (Pd(OAc)2), however, the desired hydroselenation of internal N-vinyl lactams proceeds efficiently to afford the corresponding N,Se-acetals.

Steric effect of the dithiolato linker on the reduction mechanism of [Fe2(CO)6{μ-(XCH2)2CRR′}] hydrogenase models (X = S, Se)

Investigations of the electrochemical properties of [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-(XCH₂)₂CRR′}] (X = S, Se; R or R′ = H or Me) showed that the complex with the bulkiest CMe₂moiety undergoes reduction with potential inversion.

Synthetic applications of hypophosphite derivatives in reduction

The purpose of this review is to collect the applications in fine synthesis of hypophosphite derivatives as reducing agents.

Total synthesis of viridicatumtoxin B and analogues thereof: strategy evolution, structural revision, and biological evaluation

The details of the total synthesis of viridicatumtoxin B (1) are described. Initial synthetic strategies toward this intriguing tetracycline antibiotic resulted in the development of key alkylation and Lewis acid-mediated spirocyclization reactions to form the hindered EF spirojunction, as well as Michael-Dieckmann reactions to set the A and C rings. The use of an aromatic A-ring substrate, however, was found to be unsuitable for the introduction of the requisite hydroxyl groups at carbons 4a and 12a. Applying these previous tactics, we developed stepwise approaches to oxidize carbons 12a and 4a based on enol- and enolate-based oxidations, respectively, the latter of which was accomplished after systematic investigations that revealed critical reactivity patterns. The herein described synthetic strategy resulted in the total synthesis of viridicatumtoxin B (1), which, in turn, formed the basis for the revision of its originally assigned structure. The developed chemistry facilitated the synthesis of a series of viridicatumtoxin analogues, which were evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, including drug-resistant pathogens, revealing the first structure-activity relationships within this structural type.

Stereochemical behavior of (77)Se-(1)H spin-spin coupling constants in pyrazolyl-1,3-diselenanes and 1,2-diselenolane

Conformational study of five derivatives of 2-(pyrazol-4-yl)-1,3-diselenane together with related 1,2-diselenolane in respect to the stereochemical trends of geminal and vicinal (77)Se-(1)H spin-spin coupling constants has been carried out by means of high-level theoretical calculations in combination with experiment. The marked dihedral angle dependences for both types of couplings accounted for the lone pair effect in the case of geminal coupling constants and the Karplus-type relationship for vicinal couplings have been established, which is of major importance for the stereochemical analysis of saturated selenium containing heterocycles.

Stabilization of the Thermodynamically Favored Polymorph of Cadmium Chalcogenide Nanoparticles CdX (X = S, Se, Te) in the Polar Mesopores of SBA-15 Silica

A versatile synthetic approach to cadmium chalcogenide nanoparticles in the mesopores of SBA-15 silica as a host matrix was developed. The use of cadmium organochalcogenolates of the type Cd(XPh)(2).TMEDA (X = S, Se, Te) allowed the preparation of nanoparticles of all three cadmium chalcogenides following the same experimental protocol. Particles of CdS, CdSe, and CdTe with a particle size of 7 nm were prepared from this class of single-source precursors. The incorporation of the precursor molecules into the pores was achieved by melt infiltration at a temperature of 140 degrees C. Subsequent pyrolysis of the precursors in the mesopores yielded the semiconductor particles. Owing to the high polarity of the silanol-covered pore walls, which lower the surface energy of the particles to a large extent, the dimorphic cadmium chalcogenides are obtained in their thermodynamically favored modifications; e.g., CdS particles crystallize in the wurtzite type, CdTe particles are obtained in the zinc blende structure, and CdSe (where no unambiguous preference exists) crystallizes as a "mixture" of both structures with a rather random stacking sequence.

Highly Enantioselective Reaction of α-Selenoorganolithium Compounds with Chiral Bis(oxazoline)s and Preparation of Enantioenriched Benzylidencyclohexanes

The enantioselective reaction of alpha-seleno carbanions derived from bis(phenylseleno)acetal and bis(2-pyridylseleno)acetal in the presence of bis(oxazoline)s with various electrophiles gave products with high enantioselectivity. The enantioselective reaction of alpha-lithio benzyl 2-pyridyl selenide gave the products with stereochemistry reverse to that obtained in the reaction of alpha-lithio benzyl phenyl selenide. Mechanistic investigation suggests the enantiodetermination of these reactions at -78 degrees C depends on dynamic thermodynamic resolution. The enantioselective reaction was applied to the preparation of enantioenriched olefins and epoxide.

Cyclic tetra- and hexaynes containing 1,4-donor-substituted butadiyne units: synthesis and supramolecular organization

Cyclic bis(1,3-butadiynes) with sulfur centers placed in the alpha-position to the 1,3-butadiyne units (2(n)) were synthesized by Glaser coupling of the corresponding open chain dithia-alpha,omega-diynes 1(n). In a second protocol we applied a four-component cyclization by reacting alpha,omega-dithiocyanatoalkanes 6(n) or alpha,omega-diselenocyanatoalkanes 7(n) with dilithium-1,3-butadiynide. This concept afforded either the cyclic dimers (S, 2(n); Se, 9(n)) or the cyclic trimers (S, 8(n); Se, 10(n)). Most of the molecular structures of 2(n) and 9(n) adopt chairlike conformations in the solid state. Tubular structures in the solid state with short distances between the chalcogen centers of neighboring stacks were encountered for 2(5), 9(5), 8(4), 10(4), and 10(5). Recrystallization of 10(5) from various polar and nonpolar solvents yielded inclusion of the solvent guest molecules. The solvent-accessible volume was calculated to vary from 19% (n-hexane) to 25% (mesitylene). The elastic properties of our cycles are due to the flexible methylene chains and the easily variable torsional angles between the rigid 1,3-butadiyne rods.

[Novel reactions using organoselenium compounds]

Organoselenium compounds are important tools in the field of synthetic chemistry because their specific reactivities have been used as the key reactions in the synthesis of various organic compounds. Nucleophilic organoselenium reagents are frequently utilized to introduce a selenium atom into organic molecules. However, there is no method available for the direct transformation of a hydroxy group into a selenayl group, except for the Grieco-Nishizawa reaction. In this review, novel methods for the conversion of alcohols into selenides in one step are described: both selenolate-aluminum chloride and TMSSePh-aluminum bromide are effective reagent systems for this transformation. Although benzylic alcohols could be efficiently converted to the corresponding selenides, these reagent systems were not applicable to non-benzylic alcohols. On the other hand, the reaction of cinnamyl alcohol with TMSSePh-aluminum bromide afforded 4-phenylselenochroman as a main product. The scope and limitations of this selenochroman formation were investigated using several types of allyl alcohols. To clarify the reaction path, the reaction of cinnamyl phenyl selenide with aluminum bromide was carried out. As expected, 4-phenylselenochroman was obtained in high yield. The transformation of various cinnamyl selenides was also successful in generating the corresponding selenochroman derivatives. Consequently, we developed a novel method for selenochroman synthesis.

Cyclic tetraselenadiynes: rigid cycles with long-range van der Waals forces between chalcogen centers

The synthesis of cyclic tetraselenadiynes could be achieved by a stepwise approach. Key steps were the reaction of the lithium salt of trimethylsilylacetylene (1) with alpha,omega-diselenocyanatoalkanes 2(m) (m = 2-5). By treating the bis-lithium salt of the resulting alpha,omega-diselenaalkadiynes 4(m) (m = 2-5) again with 2(n) (n = 2-5) the cyclic tetraselenadiynes 5(m.n) resulted, with methylene chains of length m and n between the SeC triple bond CSe units. The structures of seven ring systems could be investigated in the solid state. These investigations reveal that the molecular structures are determined by the rigid SeC triple bond CSe units, which try to adopt torsion angles of the CH(2)-Se sigma-bonds between 60 degrees and 90 degrees. In the solid state, the systems 5(3.3) and 5(5.5) show columnar structures that can be traced back to close contacts between Se atoms of neighboring rings.

Selenium-catalyzed oxidations with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. 2. Baeyer-Villiger reactions in homogeneous solution

Several diselenides were tested for catalytic activity in Baeyer-Villiger reactions with 60% aqueous hydrogen peroxide. Bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] diselenide forms the corresponding 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene seleninic acid in situ, which is a highly reactive and selective catalyst for the oxidation of carbonyl compounds in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, or dichloromethane.