title: Conjugate Addition Reactions Mediated by Samarium(II) Iodide.
abstract: Samarium(II) iodide in conjunction with a catalytic low-valent transition metal species has been employed to promote the conjugate addition reaction of primary and secondary alkyl halides onto alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and amides. The method has been determined to be quite general and hence has been extended to the cyclization reactions of alkyl halides onto alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones, lactams, and nitriles. The cyclization reactions described herein provide a very general approach to the synthesis of functionalized carbocycles from simple acyclic precursors with excellent diastereoselectivity and under very mild reaction conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0215.
authors.forename: Gary A.
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Molander
authors.forename: Christina R.
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Harris