[GRAPHICS] The generation of benzyne from iodobenzene with lithium tetramethylpiperidide in THF at -40 degrees C in the presence of lithium amides and ester enolates leads to mixtures in which 2-substituted iodobenzenes are often the major products, These products are obtained by iodine transfer from iodobenzene to the intermediate 2-lithioaromatics. The transfer of iodine occurs via a hypervalent iodine (ate) complex.