Arylcycloalkanes have been prepared from acetophenone by a three-step sequence involving the synthesis of α-pheny(ω-alkenyl)methylselenides and their reaction with butyl-lithium reagents to give an intermediate which adds across the CC double bond to give 2-methyl-2-phenylcycloalkylmethyl-lithiums with stereocontrol; other syntheses of these compounds are also described.
Epimerisation usually occurs during the synthesis of arylalcanes from the corresponding benzylselenides which involves benzyllithiums as intermediates. This has been used to produce stereoselectively arylcyclopentanes and arylcyclopropanes. γ-Benzenesulfonyloxyalkyl selenides substituted on the carbon bearing the benzenesulfonyl group behave differently and lead stereospecifically to arylcyclopropane