Reactions of selenium with imines (RR1C=NR2) of aldehydes and ketones in the presence of carbon monoxide, water and triethylamine lead to reductive selenation, on aerobic work-up, to afford symmetrical diselenides (RR1CHSe)2 in good to excellent yields. The proposed mechanism suggests that both in situ generated carbonyl selenide (SeCO) and hydrogen selenide (H2Se) are involved in the react...
