The reaction of lithium alkyneselenolates generated from lithium alkynides and selenium powder with a variety of thiols afforded selenothioic acid S-alkyl esters in moderate to high yields. The product yields were highly dependent on the substituents of the starting acetylenes. The formation of unstable S-aryl ester was confirmed by the enolization followed by alkylation.
Selenothioic acid S-alkyl esters were reacted with allylic bromides in the presence of Et3N. Mono-, di- or tri-allylatd products were selectively formed by changing reaction temperatures, times and allylic bromides used. The reaction proceeded with high regio- and stereoselectivity via the seleno-Claisen rearrangement. The selective synthesis of monoallylated esters was also attained by the reaction