Palladium/Norbornene-Catalyzed Ortho-Acylation and Ipso-Selenation via C(O)-Se Bond Cleavage: Synthesis of α-Carbonyl Selane.

A palladium/norbornene-catalyzed synthetic method that combines selective ortho C-H bond activation with sequential reactions to form complex selenide compounds has been developed. The C(O)-Se bond in selenoates is successfully cleaved, and various kinds of α-carbonyl selanes were synthesized in decent to excellent yields. The reaction has good functional group tolerance and broad substrate scope.