Switching between Novel Samarium(II)-Mediated Cyclizations by a Simple Change in Alcohol Cosolvent

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Gamma,delta-unsaturated ketones undergo two very different stereoselective cyclization reactions mediated by samarium(II) iodide depending upon the alcohol cosolvent used in the reaction. Switching between an unprecedented aldol spirocyclization and a novel cyclobutanol-forming process can be achieved simply by changing the alcohol cosolvent from methanol to tert-butyl alcohol. [reaction: see text]