Synthesis of Se-arylmethyl selenoformates by reaction of aluminum arylmethaneselenolates with formates

Se-Arylmethyl selenoformates were synthesized by the reaction of aluminum arylmethaneselenolates with formates. Se-Benzyl selenoformate is an unstable compound, but steric protection by some bulky substituents enabled the stable isolation of the selenoformates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of the synthesis of Se-alkyl selenoformates.