Palladium-catalyzed vinylselenation of allenes

Pd(0)-catalyzed vinylselenation of allenes was found to proceed efficiently in the presence of P(p-MeC6H4)3 as a ligand to afford the corresponding 2-selenomethyl-1,3-dienes. This reaction is highly regioselective and vinyl selenides added to the terminal double bond of the allenes exclusively to introduce the vinyl group at the inner carbon and the selenium moiety at the terminal carbon. The stereochemistry of the double bond of the vinyl selenides was perfectly retained.