Samarium(III) iodide complex catalyzed regioselective cleavage of epoxides to iodohydrins: Tandem epoxide opening-iodocyclization

Abstract

A novel tandem iodocyclization has been achieved by the regioselective ring-opening of epoxide and by the following intramolecular 1,4-cycloaddition of alpha,beta-unsaturated ester with catalytic amount of SMI2 and I-2 (1.2-2.5 equivalent) under mild and neutral reaction conditions.