Cesium carbonate-catalyzed alpha-phenylchalcogenation of carbonyl compounds with diphenyl dichalcogenide.

It was found that cesium carbonate has a unique catalytic ability on the reaction of carbonyl compounds with diphenyl diselenide to give the corresponding alpha-phenylseleno carbonyl compounds in moderate to good yields. Similarly, the alpha-phenylthiolation of carbonyl compounds with diphenyl disulfide was promoted by the cesium carbonate catalyst.