Reactions of Selenothioic Acid S-Esters and Diselenoic Acid Esters with Trialkyl Phosphites Leading to (alpha)Phosphoryl Sulfides and Selenides

The reaction of selenothioic acid S-esters with trialkyl phosphites proceeded smoothly to afford (alpha)-phosphoryl sulfides as a major product in good to high yields. The reaction was also applicable to diselenoic acid esters. On the contrary, selenothioic acid S-butyl ester underwent oxidative dimerization with triphenylphosphine to give a divinyl diselenide