An alternative to the Sandmeyer approach to aryl iodides.

Iodoarenes are important synthons for a wide range of organic transformations. Here we report a general strategy to prepare singly iodinated electron-rich aromatic compounds through the intermediacy of diaryliodonium salts. This process, which incorporates a phase separation that greatly simplifies product purification, is an attractive replacement for the Sandmeyer approach to iodoarenes that are otherwise difficult to access.