Comparative study of TmI2, SmI2, and SmI2/HMPA in the cross-coupling reactions of 2-acetylthiophene and thiophene-2-carboxylate with carbonyl compounds

The cross-coupling reactions of acetylthiophene or ethyl thiophene-2-carboxylate with aldehydes or ketones were achieved in a regioselective manner by using thulium diiodide in THF solution. Similar coupling reactions were also realized by using samarium diiodide together with excess amounts of hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). However, ethyl thiophene-2-carboxylate was inert in SmI2/THF solution, and acetylthiophene was simply reduced to thienylethanol by SmI2 in the absence of HMPA.