Reactions of alkenes with electrophilic iodine in tetramethylene sulphone–chloroform

Abstract

Treatment of simple alkenes with iodine and water in tetramethylene sulphone–chloroform affords high yields of trans-vic-iodohydrins. Use of fused sodium acetate instead of water leads to a trans-iodo-acetate. The tetramethylene sulphone–chloroform solvent system has been applied to other reactions involving electrophilic iodine. Reactions of alkenes with thallium(I) carboxylates and iodine(I) chloride are reported.