Abstract
This chapter emphasizes aspects related to the role of organochalcogen (Se, Te) compounds with single E‒O and/or double E=O (E=Se, Te) bonds in organic synthesis, as reagents, intermediates, or catalysts, and it gives a larger extent mainly to data reported in the field during the last ten years. For each of these two heavier chalcogens the material is structured according to the oxidation state of the chalcogen and, for the same oxidation state, in sections dedicated to a particular type of compounds. Functionalization or cyclization reactions in which the organochalcogen compounds take part as nucleophiles, electrophiles or radicals, employed in various synthetic transformations, are discussed and, where available, the mechanistic aspects are outlined. New chiral species and new strategies were developed during last years in order to increase the yield, the reaction rate and the stereoselectivity in specific organic transformations, i.e. addition, oxidation, elimination, cyclization or rearrangement reactions. A notably attention was devoted to easily accessible and environmental friendly catalysts, re-usable and “green” solvents, as well as waste-free procedures.
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