Selenides, homoallyl synthesis

Allylation of a-thio-35), a-seleno-35) and a-silyl- 35,77) cyclopropyllithiums was not very successful35) but addition at —78 °C of 0.5 equivalent of copper (I) iodide-dimethylsulfide complex 35,106, W7> prior to the allylhalide leads 35,106,107) to a very high yield of homoallyl cyclopropyl sulfides or selenides (Scheme 24). Similar observations have been made on cyclobutyl derivatives3S). It is not clear at present whether a cuprate is involved in the process but we have evidence ( Se-NMR) that a new species is transiently being formed, at least in the seleno series. The synthesis of homoallyl cyclopropylsilanes was also reported 78) and involves the allylation of a postulated cuprate formed by the addition of lithium dibutyl cuprate to a-lithiocyclopropylsilane (Scheme 26). 

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