Woollins' reagent
Woollins' reagent is an organic compound containing phosphorus and selenium. Analogous to Lawesson's reagent, it is used mainly as a selenation reagent. It is named after Professor John Derek Woollins, who is currently the Provost of Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi.Preparation
Woollins' reagent is commercially available. It can also be conveniently prepared in the laboratory by heating a mixture of dichlorophenylphosphine and sodium selenide,. An alternative synthesis is the reaction of the pentamer 5 with elemental selenium.Applications
The main use of Woollins' reagent is the selenation of carbonyl compounds. For instance, Woollins' reagent will convert a carbonyl into a selenocarbonyl. Additionally, Woollins' reagent has been used to selenonate carboxylic acids, alkenes, alkynes, and nitriles.
