MILD REDUCTIONS OF OXIDES OF THE GROUP-6A ELEMENTS SULFUR, SELENIUM, AND TELLURIUM WITH (PHENYLSELENO)TRIMETHYLSILANE

Sulfoxides, selenoxides, and telluroxides were reduced to the corresponding sulfides, selenides, and tellurides with 2 equiv of (phenylseleno)trimethylsilane in excellent yield and in the presence of a variety of functional groups. Evidence was found in support of onium intermediates, including an ylide rearrangement analogous to the Sommelet-Hauser rearrangement and olefinic capture of a phenylselenenyl species. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.