SmI₂-H₂O System-Mediated Organic Reactions Based on Electron Transfer Reduction of Esters

Abstract

In this short review, reductive transformations of esters with SmI₂-H₂O system are described. Recently, reduction of esters into the corresponding alcohols and intramolecular cyclization of radical anions derived from single electron reduction of esters have been extensively studied as novel and efficient methods for organic syntheses. In these reactions, a single electron transfer from SmI₂ to ester is a key step, which is promoted by addition of H₂O.