Various cyclic ethers are prepared in good to excellent yields by treating diolefins with phenylselenyl chloride in aqueous acetonitrile. This is the most facile method for organoselenium-induced formation of cyclic ethers fromdiolefins so far reported.
convenient method for hydroxyselenation of olefins so far reported. When the reaction was applied to conjugated dienes, monohydroxyselenated products were obtained in good to excellent yields. From non-conjugated dienes, on the other hand, cyclic ethers containing two phenylseleno groups were produced in good to excellent yields, the first step of this reaction being the hydroxyselenation of one double bond