Chloroiminium salts generated in situ from amides and lactams using (COCl)(2) or POCl3 react very readily with the new selenium transfer reagent, tetraethylammonium tetraselenotungstate, (Et4N)(2)WSe4, 1, to afford the corresponding selenoamides and selenolactams in excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selenolactams as Synthetic Intermediates for the Synthesis of Polycyclic Amines via Seleno-Claisen Rearrangements
allyl halides is reported. DFT analyses and experimental observations suggested that this reaction proceeds via a Se-allylation of the eneselenolates of the lactams followed by a seleno-Claisen rearrangement. The thus-obtained products could be efficiently transformed into polycyclic amines using a previously developed sequential addition of organometallic reagents and ring-closing metathesis.