<p>In this thesis, the chemistry of compounds containing P-Se bonds has been studied. As a new addition to this class of compounds, H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters, have been introduced and two synthetic pathways for their preparation have been developed.</p><p>The reactivity of H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters towards a variety of condensing agents has been studied. From these, efficient conditions for the synthesis of H-phosphonoselenoate diesters have been developed. The produced diesters have subsequently been used in oxidative transformations, which gave access to the corresponding P(V) compounds, <i>e.g</i>. dinucleoside phosphoroselenoates or dinucleoside phosphoroselenothioates.</p><p>Furthermore, a new selenizing agent, triphenyl phosphoroselenoate, has been developed for selenization of P(III) compounds. This reagent has high solubility in organic solvents and was found to convert phosphite triesters and H-phosphonate diesters efficiently into the corresponding phosphoroselenoate derivatives.</p><p>The selenization of P(III) compounds with triphenyl phosphoroselenoate proceeds through a selenium transfer reaction. A computational study was performed to gain insight into a mechanism for this reaction. The results indicate that the transfer of selenium or sulfur from P(V) to P(III) compounds proceeds most likely <i>via</i> an X-philic attack of the P(III) nucleophile on the chalcogen of the P(V) species. For the transfer of oxygen, the reaction may also proceed <i>via</i> an edge attack on the P=O bond.</p>

In this thesis, the chemistry of compounds containing P-Se bonds has been studied. As a new addition to this class of compounds, H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters, have been introduced and two synthetic pathways for their preparation have been developed. The reactivity of H-phosphonoselenoate monoesters towards a variety of condensing agents has been studied. From these, efficient conditions for the synthesis of H-phosphonoselenoate diesters have been developed. The produced diesters have subsequently been used in oxidative transformations, which gave access to the corresponding P(V) compounds, e.g. dinucleoside phosphoroselenoates or dinucleoside phosphoroselenothioates. Furthermore, a new selenizing agent, triphenyl phosphoroselenoate, has been developed for selenization of P(III) compounds. This reagent has high solubility in organic solvents and was found to convert phosphite triesters and H-phosphonate diesters efficiently into the corresponding phosphoroselenoate derivatives. The selenization of P(III) compounds with triphenyl phosphoroselenoate proceeds through a selenium transfer reaction. A computational study was performed to gain insight into a mechanism for this reaction. The results indicate that the transfer of selenium or sulfur from P(V) to P(III) compounds proceeds most likely via an X-philic attack of the P(III) nucleophile on the chalcogen of the P(V) species. For the transfer of oxygen, the reaction may also proceed via an edge attack on the P=O bond.