Synlett 2009(14): 2373-2374  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1217802
SPOTLIGHT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Woollins’ Reagent

María Ángeles López-García
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de Sevilla. c/ Profesor García González 1, Apartado 1203, 41012-Seville, Spain
e-Mail: marlopgar@alum.us.es;
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Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
10. August 2009 (online)

Introduction

Woollins’ Reagent {WR, 2,4-diphenyl-1,3-diselenadi-phosphetane-2,4-diselenide, [PhP(Se)(µ-Se)]2} is a selenium analogue of the well-known Lawesson’s reagent, [4-MeOC6H4P(S)(µ-S)]2. Compared to other selenium reagents, the deep-red crystals of WR have less unpleasant chemical properties, are easy to prepare, and safely handled in air. [¹] WR is used in the synthesis of selenium-­containing organic compounds and P-Se heterocycles. [²]

Woollins and co-workers initially prepared WR from the pentamer (PhP)5, [³] which is an air-sensitive compound with a lingering stench. For this reason, they have developed a new method preparing WR producing material of high purity in high yield. [4] This compound is now commercially available.

Figure 1