Marcello Tiecco

Electrophilic Selenium, Selenocyclizations

The most important progress made in the last ten years in the production of new electrophilic selenium reagents as well as in their reactivity towards unsaturated compounds are presented and discussed. Several new selenium-promoted, ring-closure reactions are illustrated and the factors controlling the selectivity of the cyclization process are discussed. One-pot selenenylation-deselenenylation sequences, which occur using only catalytic amounts of the organoselenium reagents, are presented. Finally, the efficient asymmetric syntheses, which are carried out with the recently described chiral non-racemic electrophilic selenenylating agents, are also surveyed.

Preparation of a new chiral non-racemic sulfur-containing diselenide and applications in asymmetric synthesis.

The synthesis of the new chiral non-racemic sulfur-containing diselenide, di-2-methoxy-6-[(1S)-1-(methylthio)ethyl]phenyl diselenide, is described. When treated with ammonium persulfate this diselenide is transformed into the corresponding selenenyl sulfate, which acts as a strong electrophilic reagent and adds to alkenes, in the presence of methanol or water, to afford the products of selenomethoxylation or selenohydroxylation, respectively, with excellent diastereoselectivities. Starting from alkenes containing internal nucleophiles, asymmetric cyclofunctionalization reactions also resulted in good chemical yields, complete regioselectivities, and high diastereoselectivities. This sulfur-containing diselenide can also be used in catalytic amounts to promote one-pot selenenylation-deselenenylation processes, from which several types of products can be obtained in high yield and with good enantiomeric excess.

New nitrogen containing chiral diselenides: synthesis and asymmetric addition reactions to olefins

Abstract A simple synthesis of two new nitrogen containing diselenides, 7 and 8 , is described. These compounds were employed as starting materials to effect the asymmetric methoxyselenenylation, the hydroxyselenenylation as well as the cyclofunctionalization of olefins. Starting from 7 all these addition processes occurred with good facial selectivity. Poor results were however obtained with 8 . One-pot selenenylation–elimination sequences using catalytic amounts of the diselenide 7 have also been investigated.

Alkynyl phenyl selenides as convenient precursors for the synthesis of stereodefined trisubstituted alkenes

Abstract The addition of p-toluensulfonic acid to alkynyl phenyl selenides is regio- and stereospecific and affords (Z)-α-(phenylseleno)vinyl p-toluensulfonates in good yield. α-(Phenylseleno)vinyl halides are obtained from the reactions of these compounds with magnesium halides. The reactions of (Z)-α-(phenylseleno)vinyl p-toluensulfonates with cyanocuprates afford the corresponding trisubstituted alkenes in which the tosyl group has been selectively substituted by an aryl or an alkyl group with retention of configuration. Finally, the cross coupling reaction of these vinyl selenides with methylmagnesium bromide, in the presence of a nickel catalyst, occurs with retention of configuration and affords the selenium free trisubstituted alkenes.

The reaction of diphenyl diselenide with peroxydisulphate ions in methanol a convenient procedure to effect the methoxyselenenylation of alkenes

Abstract Methoxyselenenylation of several alkenes was effected, in one step, by oxidation of diphenyl diselenide with ammonium peroxydisulphate in methanol.

The reactions of some halogenated pyridines with methoxide and methanethiolate ions in dimethylformamide

Abstract The reactions of 2,6- and 2,5-dibromopyridines and of 2,3- and 3,5-dichloropyridines with sodium isopropanethiolate and methanethiolate afforded the products of mono- or of bis-substitution depending on the experimental conditions. The same pyridines reacted with sodium methoxide to give good yields of the mono-substituted products; bis-substitution occurred easily only in the case of the 2,6-dibromo- and of the 3,5-dichloropyridine. The syntheses of some methoxy thiomethoxypyridine, starting from the halogeno methoxypyridines or from the halogeno thiomethoxypyhdines are also described. The bis-(alkylthio)pyridines can be fragmented by sodium in HMPA to give the bis(mercapto)pyridines.

Efficient asymmetric selenomethoxylation and selenohydroxylation of alkenes with a new sulfur containing chiral diselenide

The synthesis of a new chiral non-racemic sulfur containing diselenide is described. The electrophilic selenium reagent, produced from this diselenide by treatment with bromine and silver triflate, has been used to effect the selenomethoxylation and the selenohydroxylation of alkenes. These addition reactions occurred with good chemical yield and with high diastereoselectivities.

Synthesis of enantiopure 1,4-dioxanes, morpholines, and piperazines from the reaction of chiral 1,2-diols, amino alcohols, and diamines with vinyl selenones.

The reactions of readily available vinyl selenones with enantiopure 1,2-diols, N-protected-1,2-aminoalcohols, and diamines gave substituted enantiopure 1,4-dioxanes, morpholines, and piperazines, respectively, in good to excellent yields. The same procedure was extended to the synthesis of thiomorpholine, benzodiazepine, and benzoxazepine. The reactions proceeded in one pot, in the presence of base, through a simple and novel application of the Michael-initiated, ring-closure (MIRC) reactions. The formed heterocycles constitute a framework that is observed in a large number of pharmaceutical compounds.

A convenient synthesis of aromatic thiols from unactivated aryl halides

Abstract Aromatic thiols are obtained in good yields from unactivated aryl halides and excess MeSNa in HMPA.

Asymmetric synthesis of α-alkyl α-selenocarbonyl compounds catalyzed by bifunctional organocatalysts.

A new organocatalytic approach for the synthesis of a variety of α-alkyl, α-phenylselenyl ketones as well as their corresponding esters and amides, by the addition of α-selenocarbonyl derivatives to nitroalkenes catalyzed by thiourea or squaramide cinchona catalysts, is presented. This catalytic system allows the preparation in high yields of enantiomerically enriched selenocarbonyl derivatives bearing two chiral centers with excellent ees and drs by using catalytic loadings of 3 mol%.