Efficient method for the preparation of aromatic bromides and iodides by ferrocenium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate-catalyzed halogenation with bromine and iodine monochloride

Direct iodination and bromination of various aromatic compounds with 1.1-2.0 molar amounts of iodine monochloride (ICI) and 1.1-3.0 molar amounts of bromine proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding aromatic iodides and bromides, respectively, in good to excellent yields by using 0.05 molar amount of ferrocenium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, Cp2FeB[3,5-(CF3)(2)CH3](4) (1), in the presence of ZnO. lodination of toluene in the coexistence of 0.5 molar amount of DDQ also proceeded to give iodotoluenes in high yield.