Despite the broad utility and application of SmI<sub>2</sub>in synthesis, the reagent is used in stoichiometric amounts and has a high molecular weight, resulting in a large amount of material being used for reactions requiring one or more equivalents of electrons. We report mechanistic studies on catalytic reactions of Sm(II) employing a terminal magnesium reductant and trimethyl silyl chloride in concert with a non-coordinating proton donor source. Reactions using this approach permitted reductions with as little as 1 mol% Sm. The mechanistic approach enabled catalysis employing HMPA as a ligand, facilitating the development of catalytic Sm(II) 5-<i>exo</i>-<i>trig </i>ketyl olefin cyclization reactions.
