The synthesis of β-amino esters or amides has been achieved from moderate to high
yields from the reaction of imines and α-halo esters or amides promoted by catalytic
amounts of samarium diiodide in the presence of magnesium turnings as co-reductant.
A mechanism is proposed to explain this catalytic samarium(II)-promoted aza-Reformatsky
reaction.
Key words
amino esters - catalytic reactions - enolates - Reformatsky reaction - samarium