SmI2-mediated elimination reaction of Baylis–Hillman adducts controlled by temperature: a facile synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes and 1,5-hexadiene derivatives with E-stereoselectivity

Promoted by samarium diiodide, the Baylis–Hillman adducts undergo hydroxyl elimination to form trisubstituted alkenes with total (E)-stereoselectivity in good to excellent yields. The flexibility of this method also opens a new route to synthesize a class of 1,5-hexadiene derivatives by temperature tuning.