C/Se bond cleavage of functionalized selenides by lithium arenides: Application to the geminal di-allylation of the carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones

Selenoacetals as well as mixed (O,Se) acetals react with lithium arenides and produce, besides lithium selenolates, α-selenoalkyllithiums or α-alkoxyalkyllithiums respectively. We took advantage of these reactions as well as of the ones involving the synthesis of alkyllithiums from selenides to propose an original method for geminal di-allylation of the carbonyl group of aldehydes and ketones.