Palladium-catalyzed thio- and selenocarbonylation of 2-iodoglycals

The carbonylative cross-coupling reactions of 2-iodoglycals with thiols and selenols in the presence of molybdenum hexacarbonyl as a solid source of carbon monoxide is described. This methodology permitted the synthesis of 29 C2-glycosides bearing thioester and selenoester functionalities in moderate to excellent yields and high functional group tolerance. Moreover, this communication describes the first catalytic carbonylative coupling reaction of selenols with a carbon electrophile.