The use of aminoiminomethanesulfinic acid (thiourea dioxide) under phase transfer conditions for generating organochalcogenate anions. Synthesis of sulfides, selenides and tellurides
quenched by alkyl and activated aryl halides to give the corresponding sulfides and selenides in high yield (77–97%). The aryltellurolates react with alkyl halides giving the aryl alkyl tellurides in 81–96% yield. The procedure could not be successfully used for the synthesis of dialkylselenides and dialkyl tellurides; low yields and mixture of products were formed.
diaryl selenides from aryl benzyl selenides and arylbromides via debenzylative cross-coupling with a Pd/NIXANTPHOS-catalyst. NIXANTPHOS outperformed other commonly used bi- and monodentate ligands examined in this novel transformation. This reaction system displays wide functional group tolerance and excellent substrate scope. The transformation broadens the scope of palladium-catalyzed debenzylative processes