Reduction of Selenoamides to Amines Using SmI2-H2O.

Selenoamides are selectively reduced to amines by SmI2 with H2O. The process is general for primary, secondary, and tertiary aryl and alkyl selenoamide substrates and selectively delivers amine products. The reduction proceeds under mild conditions using SmI2 activated by straightforward addition of H2O, and does not require an additional Lewis base additive.