Reaction of an ammonium eneselenolate derived from a selenothioacetic acid S-ester with electron-deficient alkenes and alkynes

Ammonium eneselenolate 2 derived from selenothioic acid S-ester 1 was reacted with electron-deficient alkenes 4 and alkynes 9. Ammonium eneselenolate 2 underwent Michael addition with 4 to give two types of Michael adducts, 5 and 6. Products 6 incorporated two molecules of 4. In contrast, the reaction of 2 with 9 took place at the selenium atom to give γ-oxo divinyl selenides 10 with high Z-stereoselectivity. During the further elaboration of the reactivity of the products derived from 2 and carbonyl compounds, unexpected reaction was found in the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to Se-vinyl ester 3. The spectroscopic data supported the formation of the enol form 12 of β-oxo selenothioic acid S-ester 13. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 15:187–192, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20003