Barbier-type reactions of nitriles and alkyl iodides mediated by samarium(II) iodide in the presence of catalytic nickel(II) iodide

The samarium(II) iodide-mediated intermolecular Barbier-type reactions of nitriles and alkyl iodides have been investigated. In the presence of a catalytic amount of nickel(II) iodide, the reaction proceeded smoothly to provide the corresponding ketones. Amides also reacted to give ketones under the same Barbier-type conditions.