ChemInform Abstract: A Novel C-C Bond Formation by Baylis-Hillman Type Reaction Mediated by SmI2: An Effective Approach to α-Hydroxyalkylacrylamide Synthesis

α-Bromoacrylamides (1) reacted with aldehydes or ketones, in the presence of SmI2 at −78 °C in THF, within 5 min to produce Baylis–Hillman type reaction products (2) through an anionic process using vinylsamarium Grignard species in good yields (52–89%).