Cesium-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of trisubstituted heteroatom alkenes: a new strategy for the preparation of functional alkenes

Org Lett. 2015 May 1;17(9):2162-5. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.5b00751. Epub 2015 Apr 17.

Abstract

A highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective method for the synthesis of (Z)-vinylic selenosulfides and (Z)-vinylic tellurosulfides in a one-pot reaction of terminal alkynes, diaryl disulfides, and diaryl diselenides (ditellurides) catalyzed by simple base cesium hydroxide monohydrate is described. Due to the different activities of the carbon-chalcogen bonds, the target products cleave selectively and act as a kind of readily available platform molecule for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted alkenes. The mechanism of thioselenation was studied by experimental and theoretical methods.