Conversion of ketoximes to ketones with trimethylphosphine and 2,2′-dipyridyl diselenide

Use of trimethylphosphine (Me3P) and 2,2′-dipyridyl diselenide (PySeSePy) is an excellent method for the conversion of ketoximes to the corresponding ketones, since yields higher than 90% are obtained at rt within a few minutes (or hours for the more reluctant substrates, which do not react with Bu3P/PhSSPh). In the simplest cases, the reaction can be completed with 30 mol % of PySeSePy, provided that an excess of phosphine is present in the reaction medium.