AN EFFICIENT AND SELECTIVE METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF IODOPHENOLS

Direct iodination of a wide range of phenols may be achieved with unprecedented selectivity in aqueous alcohol solvents by the action of a reagent preparated in situ from sodium hypochlorite and sodium iodide. Para-substituted phenols (or ortho-substituted, when the para-position is already occupied) are obtained in fair to excellent yields by simple isolation techniques. The extent of iodination is easily controlled by stoichiometry. The technique is also useful with some anilines. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.