Dichloroiodoisocyanuric acid: A new reagent for regioselective coiodination of alkenes and iodination of activated arenes

Abstract

Dichloroiodoisocyanuric acid was prepared in 93% by heating trichloroisocyanuric acid with 1.05 mol equiv. of iodine. This new reagent is very efficient for regioselective electrophilic iodination of activated arenes. Alkenes react with dichloroiodoisocyanuric acid in the presence of oxygenated nucleophiles (water, alcohols, and acetic acid), leading to the corresponding iodohydrins, β-iodoethers and β-iodoacetates with reaction times of less than one minute and with a high degree of regioselectivity. Enol ethers resulted in the regioselective formation of the corresponding iodine-dialkylacetals. Experimental results and DFT calculations showed that dichoroiodoisocyanuric acid is more reactive with unsaturated systems than triiodoisocyanuric acid. © 2012 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.