Selenium Transfer from Secondary Phosphine Selenides to Aminoacetylenic Ketones: Access to 1,2-Dihydro-3 H -pyrrole-3-selones with a Stable C═Se Bond.

Secondary phosphine selenides were found to react with γ-aminoacetylenic ketones (80-85 °C, MeCN, 17-40 h) to afford 1,2-dihydro-3 H -pyrrole-3-selones in 48-80% yields, products of unprecedented selenium transfer from the P═Se bond to replace the carbonyl oxygen and to form dihydro-3 H -pyrrole-3-selones having a C═Se bond stable under ambient conditions.