Ring Enlargement versus Selenoetherification on the Reaction of Allenyl Oxindoles with Selenenylating Reagents

Lactam-tethered allenols, readily prepared from α-oxolactams, were used as starting materials for divergent reactivity with selenenylating reagents. Either oxycyclization (spirocyclic selenolactams) or ring expansion (selenoquinolones) can be achieved through the choice of both reagents and substrates. The biological activity of some of the synthesized heterocycles has additionally been evaluated in four human cancer cell lines.