Synthesis of nucleoside phosphoroselenolates via the efficient Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction of selenocyanates

Abstract The Michaelis–Arbuzov reactions of benzylselenocyanate and 5′-deoxythymidine-5′-selenocyanate with thymidine H -phosphonate proceeded rapidly in the presence of a neutral silylating agent and 2,6-lutidine to give the corresponding Se-alkyl phosphoroselenolate triesters. Deprotection under mild conditions enabled the isolation of phosphoroselenolate diesters which were fully characterised.