Intramolecular iodoarylation reaction of alkynes: easy access to derivatives of benzofused heterocycles.

The iodoarylation reaction of heteroatom-tethered omega-arylalkynes offers an efficient and straightforward entry to heterocycles. As a result, both C-C ring-closing from readily available precursors, and concomitant selective iodination take place. The first related study conducted in water is presented.

New reactions in water: metal-free conversion of alcohols and ketones into alpha-iodoketones.

Using water as the reaction medium, ketones can be transformed into alpha-iodoketones upon treatment with sodium iodide, hydrogen peroxide and an acid; interestingly, alpha-iodoketones can be also obtained from secondary alcohols through a metal-free tandem oxidation-iodination approach.

Reaction of alkenes with hydrogen peroxide and sodium iodide: a nonenzymatic biogenic-like approach to iodohydrins.

An efficient protocol to synthesize iodohydrins from alkenes is presented. Reactions were conducted in aqueous media using safe and readily available sodium iodide (the most abundant form of the element), and a highly convenient oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide. Addition of a protic acid triggers a faster and efficient process, a role formally related to that played by haloperoxidase enzymes in naturally occurring transformations.