Selenylated dienes: synthesis, stereochemical studies by Se NMR, and transformation into functionalized allenes

2-Phenylselanyl-1,3-dienes 3-8 were prepared by a Wittig or Wittig-Horner-Emmons procedure starting from α-phenylselanyl α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. Ratio and configuration of each diene isomers were determined by ⁷⁷Se and ¹H NMR. These dienes were then oxidized into selenoxides, which could be isolated in some cases. In THF, 2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic selenoxides, selenimides, and dihalo-selenuranes occurred, yielding allenyl alcohols 12-15, allenyl carbamates 16c-19c, and 1-haloalkyl allenes 20c-22c, respectively.