Reaction of lithium eneselenolates derived from selenoamides with ketones: a highly diastereoselective synthetic route to β,β-disubstituted β-hydroxy selenoamides

Synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted selenophenes via a copper-catalyzed regioselective [2+2+1] cyclization of terminal alkynes and selenium

Herein, a straightforward method for the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted selenophenes via [2+2+1] cyclization of easily accessible terminal alkynes and elemental selenium has been developed. This reaction features high atom- and step-economy, excellent regioselectivity, good functional group tolerance and the use of stable and non-toxic selenium as a selenium source. A series of control experiments suggests that the reaction might undergo Glaser coupling reaction of two molecules of alkynes, followed by insertion of H₂Se and subsequent cyclization. Moreover, the newly formed products can be further converted to diverse conjugated selenophene-based derivatives, demonstrating their potential applications in organic synthesis and materials science.

Reductive Cleavage of Unactivated Carbon-Cyano Bonds under Ammonia-Free Birch Conditions

A general protocol for the reductive cleavage of unactivated carbon-cyano bonds in aliphatic nitriles has been achieved under single-electron-transfer conditions using Na/15-crown-5/H₂O. Electron is supplied by the electride derived from bench-stable sodium dispersions and recoverable 15-crown-5. H₂O provides the proton source and suppresses the reduction of aromatic moieties. Compared with the Na/NH₃ electride system generated under traditional Birch conditions, this ammonia-free electride system is more practical and features better reactivity and chemoselectivity for the decyanations of a broad range of aliphatic nitriles.

Iodine-mediated regioselective 5-endo-dig electrophilic cyclization reaction of selenoenynes: synthesis of selenophene derivatives

Selenoenynes underwent electrophilic cyclization reactions with iodine in the presence of an appropriate nucleophile to give 3-iodo-selenophenes and 3-organoselenyl-selenophenes.

Hydrogen bonding at C=Se acceptors in selenoureas, selenoamides and selones

In recent years there has been considerable interest in chalcogen and hydrogen bonding involving Se atoms, but a general understanding of their nature and behaviour has yet to emerge. In the present work, the hydrogen-bonding ability and nature of Se atoms in selenourea derivatives, selenoamides and selones has been explored using analysis of the Cambridge Structural Database andab initiocalculations. In the CSD there are 70 C=Se structures forming hydrogen bonds, all of them selenourea derivatives or selenoamides. Analysis of intramolecular geometries andab initiopartial charges show that this bonding stems from resonance-induced Cδ+=Seδ−dipoles, much like hydrogen bonding to C=S acceptors. C=Se acceptors are in many respects similar to C=S acceptors, with similar vdW-normalized hydrogen-bond lengths and calculated interaction strengths. The similarity between the C=S and C=Se acceptors for hydrogen bonding should inform and guide the use of C=Se in crystal engineering.

(Biphenyl-2-alkyne) derivatives as common precursors for the synthesis of 9-iodo-10-organochalcogen-phenanthrenes and 9-organochalcogen-phenanthrenes

We present here our results on the cyclization of (biphenyl-2-ethynyl) selenides to give two different types of phenanthrene derivatives, 9-iodo-10-organochalcogen-phenanthrenes and 9-organochalcogen-phenanthrenes.

Diorganyl Dichalcogenides-Promoted Nucleophilic Closure of 1,4-Diyn-3-ols: Synthesis of 2-Benzoyl Chalcogenophenes

We report here the preparation of chalcogenophene derivatives via cyclization reactions of diynols promoted by diorganyl dichalcogenides and a halogen source. Different chalcogenophenes, such as 4-halo-selenophenes, 4-butylselenyl-selenophenes, halo-thiophenes, and 4-methylthio-thiophenes, were selectively prepared in good yields from the same starting materials. The results revealed that the halogen source had a significant effect on the proportion of 4-bromo-selenophenes and 4-butylselenyl-selenophenes. The best yields of 4-iodo-selenophenes were obtained with iodine as a halogen source, while the use of NBS gave exclusively the 4-butylselenyl-selenophenes. The experiments also revealed that the cyclization reaction to form 4-halo-thiophene derivatives can also be controlled changing the ratios of reagents. The 4-iodo-thiophenes were exclusively obtained by using dimethyl disulfide (2.0 equiv) and iodine (1.5 equiv), while the 4-bromo-thiophenes were obtained when the reaction was carried out with a 1.5 molar ratio of dimethyl disulfide and a halogen source. In addition, the reaction of diynols with an excess of dimethyl disulfide in the presence of NBS gave the 4-methylthio-thiophenes as sole products. We also studied the application of chalcogenophenes obtained as starting materials in the Suzuki, Sonogashira, and Ullmann cross-coupling reactions.

Synthesis of Tertiary Propargylamines by Sequential Reactions of in Situ Generated Thioiminium Salts with Organolithium and -magnesium Reagents

Sequential reactions of thioiminium salts generated from thioamides and methyl triflate with organolithium and -magnesium reagents proceed smoothly to give tertiary propargylamines in moderate to high yields. In all cases, two different organometallic reagents are incorporated into the starting thioamides.

Reaction and Characterization of Thioamide Dianions Derived from N-Benzyl Thioamides

Thioamide dianions were generated by the highly efficient reaction of N-benzyl thioamides with 2 equiv of BuLi. Alkylation, allylation, and silylation took place selectively at the carbon atom adjacent to the nitrogen atom of the thioamide dianions. Oxiranes and an aldehyde were also used as electrophiles in the reaction of thioamide dianions to form N-thioacyl 1,3- or 1,2-amino alcohols. The insertion reaction of elemental sulfur to a thioamide dianion and subsequent ethylation afforded a N-thioacyl hemithioaminal. NMR studies on the thioamide mono- and dianions derived from N-benzyl 2-methoxythiobenzamide showed a linear relationship between the chemical shifts of all carbon atoms of thioamide mono- and dianions. The results also suggested that the negative charge at the benzylic carbon atom of the dianion is not fully delocalized. The charge distribution patterns of the dianion are consistent with those of pi polarization.

Highly Efficient Peterson Olefination Leading to Unsaturated Selenoamides and Their Characterization

The Peterson olefination of aromatic aldehydes with an alpha-silyl selenoacetamide proceeded smoothly with high stereoselectivity to give E-alpha,beta-unsaturated selenoamides in good to high yields. The reaction with aldehydes bearing alkenyl and dienyl groups gave the corresponding selenoamides bearing dienyl and trienyl groups, but the stability of the products depended on the substituents on the aromatic ring. X-ray molecular analysis disclosed that the alpha,beta,gamma,delta-unsaturated selenoamides had a nearly planar structure. In the (77)Se NMR spectra, signals were observed in the region greater than 130 ppm depending on the substituents on the aromatic ring, whereas the (1)J coupling constant between the carbon atom and the selenium atom was almost independent of the substituents. A linear relationship was observed between the chemical shifts in the (77)Se NMR spectra and Hammet sigma parameters, and this correlation was retained even when one or two alkenyl groups were introduced to alpha,beta-unsaturated selenoamides, although it became less sensitive.

Acyclic selenoiminium salts: isolation, first structural characterization, and reactions

[reaction: see text] A variety of selenoiminium salts were obtained by reacting the corresponding selenoamides with methyl triflate at room temperature for 30 s. All of the salts were stable under air. The structures of the selenoiminium salts were determined by X-ray molecular analysis. An aromatic selenoiminium salt reacted with BuLi (3 equiv) to give two types of ketones. In a reaction with LiAlH(4)/Te, the selenoiminium salts were converted to telluroamides.