Metal-free efficient, general and facile iododecarboxylation method with biodegradable co-products

Abstract

The development of a novel, efficient and robust method for the general conversion of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids to organic iodides without the use of heavy metals or strong oxidizing agents is reported. Commercially available N-iodoamides were used for both initiation and halogen donation under irradiative conditions. Isolation of the product is extremely simple and the major co-product is removed as a water-soluble biodegradable material. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.