Novel formation of 1,2,4-triselenolanes by the reaction of tert-butylarylmethylenetriphenylphosphoranes with elemental selenium

Reaction of tert-butylarylmethylenetriphenylphosphoranes with elemental selenium afforded the corresponding 1,2,4-triselenolanes (1), 1,3-diselenetanes (4), and triphenylphosphine selenide. Triselenolanes 1 were formed from selenation of 4, which may suggest a stepwise selenation of selenoketones.