The deoxygenation and reduction of some organic substrates with samarium diiodide were investigated. The carbon-carbon bond formation between a-bromoacetophenone (I), and benzaldehydes promoted by samarium diiodide was first reported. A possible mechanism involving samarium(III) enolate intermediate formed in situ from I with both Sm(II) and Sm(III)/I- species was proposed.

Key words: PYRIDINE P, REACTION MECHANISM, IODIDE, ACETOPHENONE, BENZENE AZO COMPOUNDS, BENZOQUINONE, HALOHYDROCARBON, REDUCTION REACTION, BENZALDEHYDE, DEOXIDIZATION