Reversibility of Ketone Reduction by SmI2-Water and Formation of Organosamarium Intermediates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/acs.organomet.7b00392

The reduction of ketones by SmI₂-water has long been thought to proceed through a reversible initial electron transfer with the formation of organosamarium intermediates in a follow-up step. Kinetic experiments on the reduction of two model ketones and structurally similar ketones with a pendant alkene are shown to be consistent with a rate-limiting reduction by SmI₂-water through a proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET). Literature values for the rates of radical cyclizations and reduction of radicals by SmI₂ and thermochemical data for radical reduction by SmI₂-water further support a rate-limiting initial step for ketone reductions. These data suggest that discrete organosamarium species may not be intermediates in ketone reductions by SmI₂-water.