ELIMINATION-REACTIONS OF TERMINAL BETA-OXY SELENOXIDES - SYNTHESIS OF ARYL AND VINYL ENOL ETHERS AND OF FURANS, OXAZOLES, AND THIAZOLES

Elimination reactions of terminal selenoxides holding an alkoxy group in the beta position, RCH-(OR)CH2SeOPh, are usually difficult and can give rise to complex reaction mixtures. We report that these reactions take place more easily whenever the oxygen atom is linked to an unsaturated group (-CH=CHR, -Ar, -CR=O, -CH=NR). These selenoxides are easily available, and the elimination reaction was employed to effect useful syntheses of both open-chain and cyclic aryl and vinyl enol ethers. Moreover, by simple isomerization with acids or bases the cyclic derivatives can be transformed into the corresponding furans. The same procedure has been employed to synthesize substituted oxazoles and thiazoles also.