Introduced for the first time to synthetic organic chemistry in 1977, 1 samarium diiodide has emerged as one of the most useful reagents. Except in reactions where it is the precursor of a Sm (III) catalyst, 2 it is used in stoichiometric amounts. Its preparation requires samarium powder or ingots, 1, 3 neither of which are very expensive. 4 However, the cost of samarium diiodide could be considered as a major drawback, potentially limiting the development of ...
