Sulfur and Selenium Chemistry Organosulfur and selenium chemistry play a crucial role in organic synthesis. The increasing importance of sulfur and selenium-containing enantiomerically pure ligands in asymmetric synthesis, and the continuing use of chiral sulfur and selenium groups as stereocontrol elements, ensures that the development of new asymmetric methods for the synthesis of organosulfur and selenium componds will continue to grow in importance. This will provide a novel approach to the stereoselective synthesis of functionalised, enantiomerically pure sulfides, selenides, and tellurides. Interestingly, the stoichiometry of the reaction shows that each complex transfers at least two ligands. The remaining untransferred ligands may remain on the lanthanide centre until work up.
Further studies aimed at confirming the structure of theses complexes are currently underway.
The ultimate test for new synthetic methodology lies in its application to natural product synthesis. Procter, D. J. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. Ketyl-Olefin Cyclisation of Unsaturated Aldehydes. Soc., Perkin Trans.