Synthesis, structural characterisation, and synthetic application of stable seleniranium ions

Electronic and Steric Effects on the Reactivity of Seleniranium Ions with Alkenes in the Gas Phase

Gas phase ion-molecule reactions between seleniranium ions, R-c-SeCH2CH2+, and cis-cyclooctene were used to probe electronic and steric effects of substituents on kinetics and branching ratios. The second-order rate coefficients increased in the order p-OMeC6H4 < C6H5 < p-BrC6H4 < p-CF3C6H4 < m-NO2C6H4, giving a Hammett plot with R2 = 0.98 and ρ = +1.66. The two main pathways include direct transfer of the selenium moiety to the incoming alkene (π-ligand exchange) and the less favored ring-opening by attack at an iranium carbon to give a cis-bicyclic selenonium ion as supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Branching ratios of each pathway indicated that electron-withdrawing groups directed more attack at carbon than selenium in agreement with previous solution-phase results. Increased steric bulk on selenium was investigated by changing the R group from a methyl to t-butyl, which not only shut down π-ligand exchange but also significantly reduced the overall reactivity. Finally, the reactivity of the iranium ion derived from Se-methylselenocysteine was investigated and shown to react faster and favor π-ligand exchange as the leaving group was changed from ethene to acrylic acid.

Attempts to Synthesize a Thiirane, Selenirane, and Thiirene by Dealkylation of Chalcogeniranium and Thiirenium Salts

Thiiranium salts [Ad2 SR]+ X- (5, 8, 9, 11, 12; X- =Tf2 N- (Tf=CF3 SO2 ), SbCl6 - ) and seleniranium salts [Ad2 SeR]+ X- (14, 16, 17, 23-25; X- =Tf2 N- , BF4 - , CHB11 Cl11 - , SbCl6 - ) are synthesized from strained alkene bis(adamantylidene) (1). The disulfides and the diselenides (Me3 SiCH2 CH2 E)2 (4, 13), (tBuMe2 SiCH2 CH2 E)2 (7, 22), and (NCCH2 CH2 E)2 (10, 15; E=S, Se) have been used. The thiirenium salts [tBu2 C2 SR]+ X- (34) and [Ad2 C2 SR]+ X- (35, 36) are prepared from the bis-tert-butylacetylene (2) and bis-adamantyl-acetylene (3) with R=Me3 SiCH2 CH2 and tBuMe2 SiCH2 CH2 . Attempts to cleave off the groups Me3 SiCH2 CH2 , tBuMe2 SiCH2 CH2 , and NCCH2 CH2 resulted in thiiranes 27, 30. No selenirane Ad2 Se (33) is formed from seleniranium salts, instead cleavage to the alkene (1) and diselenide (13, 15) occurs. The thiirenium salt [Ad2 C2 SCH2 CH2 SiMe3 ]+ Tf2 N- (35) does not yield the thiirene Ad2 C2 S (37), the three-membered ring is cleaved, forming the alkyne (3) and disulfide (4). All compounds are characterized by ESI mass spectra, NMR spectra, and by quantum chemical calculations. Crystal structures of the salts 8, 12, 25, 17, 26, 36 and the thiiranes 27, 30 are presented.

Diorganyl Diselenides and Iron(III) Chloride Drive the Regio- and Stereoselectivity in the Selenation of Ynamides

We report here our results on the application of ynamides as substrates in the reactions with diorganyl dichalcogenides and iron(III) chloride to give selectively three different types of compounds: E-α-chloro-β-(organoselenyl)enamides, 4-(organochalcogenyl)oxazolones, and vinyl tosylates. The results reveal that the selectivity in the formation of products was obtained by controlling the functional groups directly bonded to the nitrogen atom of the ynamides. Thus, α-chloro-β-(organoselenyl) enamide derivatives were exclusively obtained when the TsN- and MsN-ynamides were treated with a mixture of diorganyl diselenides (1.0 equiv) and FeCl₃ (3.0 equiv) in dichloroethane (DCE, 3 mL), at room temperature. The 4-(organochalcogenyl)oxazolones were selectively obtained with ynamides having an ester group, directly bonded to the nitrogen atom, upon treatment with a solution of FeCl₃ (1.5 equiv) and diorganyl dichalcogenides (1.0 equiv) in dichloromethane (3 mL) at room temperature. Finally, vinyl tosylates were obtained from ynamides having an ester group, directly bonded to the nitrogen atom, by reaction with p-toluenesulfonic acid. We also studied the application of the prepared compounds as substrates for Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions.

Remarkable Alkene-to-Alkene and Alkene-to-Alkyne Transfer Reactions of Selenium Dibromide and PhSeBr. Stereoselective Addition of Selenium Dihalides to Cycloalkenes

The original goal of this research was to study stereochemistry of selenium dihalides addition to cycloalkenes and properties of obtained products. Remarkable alkene-to-alkene and alkene-to-alkyne transfer reactions of selenium dibromide and PhSeBr were discovered during this research. The adducts of selenium dibromide with alkenes or cycloalkenes easily exchange SeBr₂ with other unsaturated compounds, including acetylenes, at room temperature, in acetonitrile. Similar alkene-to-alkene and alkene-to-alkyne transfer reactions of the PhSeBr adducts with alkenes or cycloalkenes take place. The supposed reaction pathway includes the selenium group transfer from seleniranium species to alkenes or alkynes. It was found that the efficient SeBr₂ and PhSeBr transfer reagents are Se(CH₂CH₂Br)₂ and PhSeCH₂CH₂Br, which liberate ethylene, leading to a shift in equilibrium. The regioselective and stereoselective synthesis of bis(E-2-bromovinyl) selenides and unsymmetrical E-2-bromovinyl selenides was developed based on the SeBr₂ and PhSeBr transfer reactions which proceeded with higher selectivity compared to analogous addition reactions of SeBr₂ and PhSeBr to alkynes under the same conditions.