Samarium and Ytterbium in Organic Electrosynthesis

Abstract

AbstractLow-valent lanthanide catalysts and reagents are well-established as versatile and tunable mediators for a variety of synthetic transformations. Despite the contemporary interest in electricity as a sustainable alternative to stoichiometric redox reagents, electrochemical (re)generation of such low-valent metal complexes in a synthetic setting is surprisingly limited. With focus on samarium and ytterbium, this review presents a comprehensive overview of electroreductive-mediated transformations with the hope of inspiring further work in this very useful field of research.1 Introduction2 Compounds Containing Carbon–Oxygen Bonds2.1 Ethers2.2 Aldehydes and Ketones2.3 Esters and Phthalimides3 Compounds Containing Nitrogen–Oxygen Bonds4 Compounds Containing Carbon–Halide Bonds5 Conclusions