Reduction and reductive coupling of imines by Sm(II)-based reagents

The reductive coupling of aldimines and ketimines by a series of Sm(II)-based reagents (SmI₂, SmI₂–HMPA, SmBr₂, Sm{N[Si(CH₃)₃]₂}₂, and SmI₂/triethylamine/water) were examined. In general, aldimines and ketimines were efficiently reduced or coupled using reductants that are more powerful than SmI₂, and the use of Sm{N[Si(CH₃)₃]₂}₂ led to higher diastereoselectivities in reductive coupling reactions. Surprisingly, only the combination of SmI₂/triethylamine/water was capable of reducing and coupling para-substituted benzaldimines and coupling ketimines.     

Photoinduced electron transfer reactions by SmI2 in THF: luminescence quenching studies and mechanistic investigations

Photoluminescence quenching studies of SmI2 in dry THF were carried out in the presence of five different classes of compounds: ketone, alkyl chloride, nitrile, alkene and imine. The free energy change (DeltaG0) of the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reactions was calculated from the redox potentials of the donor (SmI2) and acceptors. The bimolecular quenching constants (k(q)) derived from the Stern-Volmer experiments parallel the free energy changes of the PET processes. The observed quenching constants were compared with the theoretically derived electron transfer rate constants (k(et)) from Marcus theory and found to be in good agreement when a value of lambda = 167 kJ mol(-1) (40 kcal mol(-1)) was used for the reorganization energy of the system. A careful comparison of the excited state dynamics of SmII in the solid state to the results obtained in solution (THF) provides new insight in to the excited states of SmII in THF. The activation parameters determined for the PET reactions in SmI2/1-chlorobutane system are consistent with a less ordered transition state and high degree of bond reorganization in the activated complex compared to similar ground state reactions. Irradiation studies clearly show that SmI2 acts as a better reductant in the excited state and provides an alternative pathway for rate enhancement in known and novel functional group reductions.     

Investigation of the [Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)] reducing system in THF. Rate and mechanistic studies

The reductant [Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)] was examined by cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis spectroscopy. Rate constants and activation parameters for the reduction of 1-iodobutane, 2-butanone, and methylacetoacetate by [Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)] were measured in THF by stopped-flow absorption decay experiments. Comparison with SmI(2) and SmI(2)-HMPA shows that the redox potential of [Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)] is intermediate between the SmI(2)-based reductants, yet it reduces alkyl iodides and ketones at a faster rate than the powerful combination of SmI(2) and HMPA. The activation data for reduction of alkyl iodides and ketones by [Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)] are consistent with highly ordered transition states having low activation barriers. All of these results taken together suggest that the mechanism of reduction of alkyl iodides and ketones by [Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)] has more inner-sphere character than reduction by SmI(2) or Sm-(HMPA) complexes. The change in the ET mechanism is attributed to the unique structure of the [Sm(N(SiMe(3))(2))(2)] complex.     

The role of ligand displacement in SmII-HMPA-based reductions

Addition of HMPA to [Sm[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2)] produces a less reactive reductant in contrast to addition of HMPA to SmI(2). While the [Sm[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2)]-HMPA combination results in a more powerful reductant based on the redox potential, the observed decrease in reactivity is attributed to steric hindrance caused by the nonlabile ligand -N(SiMe(3))(2) and HMPA around the Sm metal. The importance of ligand displacement (exchange) in Sm(II)-HMPA-based reactions and insight into the mechanism of [Sm[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2)]-HMPA and SmI(2)-HMPA reductions are presented.     

Rapid SmI2-mediated reductions of alkyl halides and electrochemical properties of SmI2/H2O/amine

Mixtures of SmI(2)/H(2)O/amine have been found to reduce alkyl halides more efficiently than SmI(2)/HMPA/alcohol mixtures at room temperature. Alkyl and aryl iodides were quantitatively reduced in <1 min and alkyl bromides in 10 min, while alkyl and aryl chlorides required more than 5 h for completion. Determination of the reaction order of Et(3)N in the reduction of 1-chlorodecane showed that the reaction order is one. Water was shown not to participate in the rate-determining step of this reduction. There was a significant change of the UV-vis spectrum and color of SmI(2) upon addition of either PMDTA or water, while no effect was observed with the addition of Et(3)N or TMEDA. Although the combination of SmI(2), water, and amines produces a very efficient reducing system, cyclic voltammetric experiments showed that the redox potential is nearly identical with that of SmI(2) alone. These results are consistent with precipitation providing the driving force for reduction. Taken together, the results of these experiments show that the combination of SmI(2)/H(2)O/amine provides a fundamentally novel and useful approach to enhance the reactivity of SmI(2).