Cyclization into perhydronaphthalenones using samarium diiodide

Samarium(II) diiodide has been employed to promote the intramolecular cyclization reactions of aldehydes or ketones onto α,β-unsaturated ketones. The cyclization reactions described herein provide a general approach to the syntheses of perhydronaphthalenones with a cis-relationship between the OH at C-5 and the proton or methyl group at C-4a with good diastereoselectivity under mild reaction conditions.