Stereoelectronic Properties,Stereospecificity and Stabilization of α-Seleno Carbanions. An ab initio Study

An ab initio study of α-seleno carbanions show that they are subject to appreciable polarization and stereoelectronic effects. Like in α-thia carbanions, the equatorial e forms are more stable than the axial a forms, one of the stabilizing contributions being the conformation dependent (C-lone pair, σ* Se? Z) interaction. The carbanion stabilizing effect of the α-Se atom is about 3 kcal/mol larger than that of the sulfur analog. As in the case of the sulfur no specific effect of the d orbitals is found.