A new strategy for coupling amides or nitriles with diarylketones promoted by samarium metal under the catalysis of CuI

Abstract

Promoted by samarium metal, the novel condensation reaction of low activity α-H and benzophones was realized under the catalysis of cuprous iodide under the mild conditions. The carbonyls of diarylketones could be coupled with a variety of nitriles or amides, which could be converted to condensation products with good yields at room temperature, while the deoxygenation products could be obtained smoothly at 80 °C. Only 5 mol % CuI was sufficient to catalyze the reaction and the use of iodine as additive could increase the reaction efficiency obviously.