A new samarium diiodide-mediated coupling reaction between N-acyl lactams and ketones or aldehydes

A new SmI2-mediated coupling reaction between N-acyl lactams and ketones or aldehydes is reported. The ring opening of these imides with samarium diiodide gives acyl samarium species, which are trapped by ketones or aldehydes to yield amido α-ketols. With an excess of SmI2, in the presence of ethanol, the end products are amidoketones.