Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkylsamarium reagents with alkyl halides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)00604-7

SmI₂/HMPA converts alkyl iodides and bromides to alkyl samarium reagents which can be cross-coupled with primary alkyl iodides and bromides and secondary iodides in the presence of Cu(I) halides or Li₂CuCl₄ at room temperature. The alkylation of primary iodides gives good yields of cross-coupling products with negligible home-coupling produces. The method is especially useful for the small scale cross-coupling reactions.