SmI2 as a reagent in polymer chemistry

The use of divalent samarium iodide (SmI2) as a reducing agent has stimulated remarkable evolution in organic synthesis, which has been followed by the application of this chemistry to polymer science in the last ten pears. Here, we briefly summarize the exciting developments in which SmI2-induced electron transfer processes participate in key steps in polymerization reactions. We focus on the following systems: 1) transformation reaction from cationic to anionic growing centers by SmI2, 2) formation of bimetallic initiator through the reductive coupling of electrophilic monomers by SmI2, and 3) stepwise polymerization by the extension of carbon - carbon bond-forming reactions by SmI2.