Group Transfer Carbonylations: Photoinduced Alkylative Carbonylation of Alkenes Accompanied by Phenylselenenyl Transfer

Abstract

The photolysis of methyl alpha-(phenylseleno)acetate (1b) and related compounds in the presence of an alkene and CO leads to acyl selenides 2 via group transfer carbonylation. The mechanism of this three-component coupling reaction involves the addition of a (methoxycarbonyl)methyl radical to an alkene, the trapping of the produced alkyl free radical by CO, and termination of the reaction by a phenylselenenyl group transfer from the starting material.