A treatment of ethyl bromoacetate with two molar equivalent of samarium diiodide at −50 °C for 15 min in THF produces a β-oxoester enolate equivalent; the reagent reacts with ketones or aldehydes to give δ-hydroxy-β-oxoesters in excellent yields.

A nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition of aromatic (O-benzyl)ketoximes with alkynes to afford 3,4-disubstituted isoquinoline derivatives has been developed. The reaction involves oxidative addition of N–O bond of O-benzylketoxime to Ni(0) and subsequent intermolecular C–H bond activation via elimination of benzyl alcohol. It was also found that ketoximes participate in the nickel-catalyzed reaction with alkynes to furnish isoquinoline N-oxide derivatives.