Reduction of alpha-aryloxy carbonyl compounds with samarium(II) iodide. A new traceless linker for the solid phase synthesis of carbonyl compounds.

A new linker for the solid phase synthesis of functionalised carbonyl compounds which is cleaved under mild, neutral conditions using samarium(II) iodide has been developed; the manipulation of an immobilised gamma-butyrolactone has been carried out to illustrate the utility of the linker.