Cascades, Catalysis and Chiral Ligand Control with SmI2; The Rebirth of a Reagent

This review focuses on recent developments from our laboratory in the field of radical reactions mediated by the archetypal reductive single electron transfer (SET) reagent, SmI2. Namely, we have expanded the scope of reducible carbonyl moieties to esters and amides and have exploited the resultant ketyl radicals in radical cascade reactions that generate unprecedented scaffolds. Moreover, we have taken the first steps to address the long-standing challenges of catalysis and chiral ligand control associated with the reagent.