Samarium-based Grignard-type addition of organohalides to carbonyl compounds under catalysis of CuI

Grignard-type additions were readily achieved under the mediation of CuI (10 mol%) and samarium (2 equiv.) by employing various organohalides, e.g. benzyl, aryl, heterocyclic and aliphatic halides (Cl, Br or I), and diverse carbonyl compounds ( e.g. carbonic esters, carboxylic esters, acid anhydrides, acyl chlorides, ketones, aldehydes, propylene epoxides and formamides) to afford alcohols, ketones and aldehydes, respectively, with high efficiency and chemoselectivity, in which the organosamarium intermediate might be involved. A useful versatile samarium-CuI based carbonyl addition protocol via organohalides was achieved, with the advantages of excellent efficiency, broad applicability and high chemoselectivity.