Reaction of selenium and tellurium halides with propargyl alcohols. The regio‐ and stereoselectivity of addition to the triple bond

Abstract

Abstract A convenient method to incorporate selenium into an organic molecule is reported. Various aspects of the reaction of SeCl 2 with propargyl alcohols, i.e., identity of reacting functionality, regiospecificity, and stereospecificity, differ from expectations based on known reactions of these alcohols with SCl 2 . Selenium dihalides undergo smooth 1,2‐addition to the triple bond of various propargylic alcohols resulting in the formation of the corresponding functionalized divinyl selenides in high yields and with complete regio‐ and stereospecificity. Of special mechanistic interest is the syn ‐addition and anti‐Markovnikov orientation observed in all cases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.