A novel synthesis of organic diselenapolysulfides

A family of organic polychalcogenides with a common structure of RSeSxSeR (with x=1, 2, 3 and R=CH3, Ph, PhCH2, O2NC6H4CH2) as well as cyclic 5,5-dimethyl-1,2-dithia-3,7-diselenacycloheptane were synthesized in good yield and high purity from the reaction of Ph3CSxCl with corresponding diselenides in chloroform at room temperature. Mechanistic aspects of the insertion involving the formation of an intermediate (RSeSxCPh3) are discussed.