Optical Resolution and Configurational Stability of Selenoxides Stabilized by Intramolecular Coordination

2-((Dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl alkyl (or aryl) selenoxides, configurationally stabilized by intramolecular coordination of an amino group to the selenium atom, were optically resolved into their enantiomeric isomers by means of high-performance liquid chromatography using an optically active column packed with amylosecarbamate derivative/silica gel. This is the first example of the isolation of optically pure selenoxides without bulky substituents and also the first isolation of optically pure alkyl aryl selenoxides. The absolute configuration of the (-)-isomers could be assigned to be the S-form by comparison of their specific rotations, circular dichroism spectra, and behavior on the optically active column with those of the sulfur analogue, prepared by Andersen's method. Racemization of the optically active selenoxides was accelerated not only in acidic solution but also in basic media. This result indicates there are two different mechanisms for their racemization in acidic and basic media. The stabilization energy of the selenoxides by the intramolecular coordination of an amino group to the selenium atom was estimated to be ca. 3 kcal mol(-)(1) on the basis of variable-temperature (1)H NMR measurements.