Samarium diiodide is an efficient catalyst precursor which allows the
formation of condensation products between various carbonyl compounds
and ketene silyl acetals or enoxysilanes. With alpha,beta-unsaturated
carbonyl compounds, 1,2- or 1,4-additions are observed according to th
e structure of the substrate. alpha,beta-Unsaturated ketones yield to
enoxysilanes by selective Michael additions. Aldol poducts are isolate
d as silyl ethers. The mechanisms of the reactions are discussed. (C)
1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.