Selenazoles, nitro-, synthesis

A variation of the general method for the synthesis of 2-amino-selenazoles is to avoid the use of the free a-halogenocarbonyl compound and in its place react the corresponding ketone and iodine with selenourea.This procedure is also taken from thiazole chemistry. By contrast with thiourea, the reaction with selenourea needs a longer reaction time and the work up of the reaction mixture is somewhat more difficult. Usually an excess of the ketone is used. In the preparation of 2-amino-4-( n-nitrophenyl)selenazole, a very high yield, calculated on the amount of iodine used, was obtained. To explain this peculiar result, the oxidative action of the nitro group was invoked. This liberates free iodine from some of the hydrogen iodide eliminated in the condensation reaction, and the free iodine then re-enters into the reaction. 

Diethoxymethylacetate, in synthesis of, trimethine thiazolocyanines, 55 2-Diethylamino-4-methyl-5-nitro selenazole. melting point, 243... 

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