The organoselenium-mediated reduction of α,β-epoxy ketones, α,β-epoxy esters, and their congeners to β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds: Novel methodologies for the synthesis of aldols and their analogues
Novelmethods for the reduction of α,β-epoxy ketones, α,β-epoxy esters (glycidic esters), and their congeners to β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds (aldols) by the use of organoselenium reagents are described. The reagents, a sodium phenylseleno(triethyl)borate complex Na[PhSeB(OEt)3] easily prepared by reduction of (PhSe)2 with NaBH4 in EtOH and benzeneselenol (PhSeH) generated in situ from the borate complex