2014 年 72 巻 2 号 p. 183-184
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.