Selenium-catalysed debromination of vic-dibromides to alkenes with cysteine or glutathione
Abstract
Sodium selenite catalyses, under mild conditions, the reductive debromination of vic-dibromides [e.g., meso- or (±)-1,2-dibromo-1,2-diphenylethane, trans-10,11-dibromodibenzosuberone, 2,3-dibromo-1,3-Biphenyl-1-propanone, α,β-dibromobenzenepropanoic acid, and cholesterol dibromide] to alkenes in the presence of the thiols cysteine or glutathione.