One-Pot Synthesis of Selenothioic Acid S-Alkyl Esters by the Reaction of Lithium Alkyneselenolates with Thiols

Abstract
The reaction of lithium alkyneselenolates generated from lithium alkynides and selenium powder with a variety of thiols afforded selenothioic acid S-alkyl esters in moderate to high yields. The product yields were highly dependent on the substituents of the starting acetylenes. The formation of unstable S-aryl ester was confirmed by the enolization followed by alkylation.