Synthesis and Reactions of Selenoketones

Abstract

Abstract A new, convenient method for the synthesis of selenoketones has been reported. The reaction of dimagnesium salts of ketone hydrazones with diselenium dichloride affords an intermediate tentatively assigned as tetraselenides, which are converted into selenoketones by heating in the presence of tributylamine. A comparative study on the reactions of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-indanselone and the corresponding thioketone with Grignard and organolithium reagents have been carried out. Analysis of the reaction products has revealed that the heterophilic attack of the organometallic reagents is much more significant in the reaction with the selone than with the thione.