The reaction of phenylselenenyl triflate with diazo compounds is described.
Diazoalkanes, alpha -diazoketones and alpha -diazoesters gave the correspo
nding di(phenylselanyl) derivatives either at 0 degreesC or at room tempera
ture. alpha -Diazo-beta -dicarbonyl compounds gave selectively di(phenylsel
anyl) derivatives at - 78 degreesC, while they gave a mixture of di(phenyls
elanyl)- and mono(phenylselanyl) derivatives either at 0 degreesC or at roo
m temperature.