dark brownish to black crystals
Employed in the synthesis of enones by selenenylation of α-cyano ketones with lithium naphthalenide. Phenylselenyl bromide was used in the preparation of exo-2-methyl-7-phenylselenyl-octahydro-8-oxa-2,7b-diaza-dicyclopenta[a,e]pentalene-1,3-dione and endo-2-methyl-7-phenylselanyl-octahydro-8-oxa-2,7b-diaza-dicyclopenta[a,e]pentalene-1,3-dione.
Distil it in a vacuum, recrystallise it from pet ether, CHCl3 (EtOH free), or Et2O (cooling mixture) to give dark red or orange crystals. These sublime at 25o/0.001mm [Behaghel et al. Chem Ber 65 815 1932, Pitteloud & Petrzilka Helv Chim Acta 62 1319 1979]. [Beilstein 6 III 1111.] HIGHLY TOXIC.
