An indium–TMSCl promoted reaction of diphenyl diselenides and aldehydes: novel routes to selenoacetals and alkyl phenyl selenides

The reaction of diphenyl diselenides with aldehydes in the presence of In–TMSCl has been investigated. Aliphatic aldehydes provide the corresponding selenoacetals, whereas aromatic aldehydes lead predominantly to alkyl phenyl selenides under the same reaction conditions. This constitutes a new approach for the synthesis of selenoacetals and selenides from aldehydes.