Oxidation of organoselenium compounds. A study of chemoselectivity of phenylacetone monooxygenase

Organoselenium acetophenones oxidation using enzymatic reactions has been developed and chemoselectivity of phenylacetone monooxygenase (PAMO) with selenium-containing ketones has been explored. We discovered that this biocatalyst prefers selenium oxidation, which leads to selenoxide in excellent conversion, over Baeyer–Villiger oxidation.

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► An enzyme-based approach to perform mild oxidation of selenium-containing ketones has been explored.
► The oxidation reactions catalyzed by PAMO were chemoselective.
► PAMO prefers selenium oxidation than Baeyer–Villiger oxidation.
► Several selenoxides were prepared using sodium periodate.