Efficient trapping of the intermediates in the photooxygenation of sulfides by aryl selenides and selenoxides

Aryl selenides and selenoxides trap efficiently the intermediates in the reaction of singlet oxygen with sulfides. In the co-photooxygenation of 1 equiv of an aryl selenoxide with 1.3 equiv of dimethyl sulfide, the aryl selenone is formed quantitatively. Aryl selenides require 4–5 equiv of sulfide for their complete co-oxidation to selenones.