Electrophilic monoiodination of terminal alkenes.

An excess of elemental iodine in N,N-dimethylacetamide enables effective 3/iodanylium-de-hydronation of terminal alkenes with 3-iodopropene derivatives and hydrogen iodide formation within minutes at room temperature. The optimal molar ratio of iodine to substrate was decreased to 1 : 1 when hydrogen iodide formed was oxidized on a platinum anode. The electrolytic oxidation recovers iodine as a reagent and diminishes the hydrogen iodide inhibitory action to accomplish the monoiodination. The proposed reaction mechanism is based on kinetic measurements and quantum mechanics calculations.