Driving the equilibrium between selenides and osmium(VIII) reagents with selenoxides and osmium(VI) by a subsequent reaction (rearrangement of allyl selenoxides to allyl alcohols or addition of osmium(VIII) species on C=C double bonds) to one side, allows the transformation of methyl geranyl selenides to linalool and of methyl citronellyl selenoxide to 6,7-dihydroxy citronellyl selenide.

Evidence of an Equilibrium Between Selenides and Osmium(VIII) Reagents and Selenoxides and Osmium(VI) Reagents.-Driving the equilibrium between selenides and osmium(VIII) reagents with selenoxides and Os(VI) by a subsequent reaction (rearrangement of allyl selenoxides to allyl alcohols or addition of Os(VIII) species on a C-C double bond) to one side, allows the transformation of methyl selenide (I) to linalool (II) and of methyl citronellyl selenoxide (III) to 6,7-dihydroxy citronellyl selenide (IV).