Starting from the early 1990’s, the chemistry of polyvalent iodine organic compounds has experienced an explosive development. This surging interest in iodine compounds is mainly due to the very useful oxidizing properties of polyvalent organic iodine reagents, combined with their benign environmental character and commercial availability. Iodine(III) and iodine(V) derivatives are now routinely used in organic synthesis as reagents for various selective oxidative transformations of complex organic molecules. Several areas of hypervalent organoiodine chemistry have recently attracted especially active interest and research activity. These areas, in particular, include the synthetic applications of 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) and similar oxidizing reagents based on the iodine(V) derivatives, the development and synthetic use of polymer-supported and recyclable polyvalent iodine reagents, the catalytic applications of organoiodine compounds, and structural studies of complexes and supramolecular assemblies of polyvalent iodine compounds.

The chemistry of polyvalent iodine has previously been covered in four books1–4 and several comprehensive review papers.5–17 Numerous reviews on specific classes of polyvalent iodine compounds and their synthetic applications have recently been published.18–61 Most notable are the specialized reviews on [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene,41 the chemistry and synthetic applications of iodonium salts,29,36,38,42,43,46,47,54,55 the chemistry of iodonium ylides,56–58 the chemistry of iminoiodanes,28 hypervalent iodine fluorides,27 electrophilic perfluoroalkylations,44 perfluoroorgano hypervalent iodine compounds,61 the chemistry of benziodoxoles,24,45 polymer-supported hypervalent iodine reagents,30 hypervalent iodine-mediated ring contraction reactions,21 application of hypervalent iodine in the synthesis of heterocycles,25,40 application of hypervalent iodine in the oxidation of phenolic compounds,32,34,50–53,60 oxidation of carbonyl compounds with organohypervalent iodine reagents,37 application of hypervalent iodine in (hetero)biaryl coupling reactions,31 phosphorolytic reactivity of o-iodosylcarboxylates,33 coordination of hypervalent iodine,19 transition metal catalyzed reactions of hypervalent iodine compounds,18 radical reactions of hypervalent iodine,35,39 stereoselective reactions of hypervalent iodine electrophiles,48 catalytic applications of organoiodine compounds,20,49 and synthetic applications of pentavalent iodine reagents.22,23,26,59

The main purpose of the present review is to summarize the data that appeared in the literature following publication of our previous reviews in 1996 and 2002. In addition, a brief introductory discussion of the most important earlier works is provided in each section. The review is organized according to the classes of organic polyvalent iodine compounds with emphasis on their synthetic application. Literature coverage is through July 2008.

Chemistry of Polyvalent Iodine

The preparation, structure, and chemistry of hypervalent iodine compounds are reviewed with emphasis on their synthetic application. Compounds of iodine possess reactivity similar to that of transition metals, but have the advantage of environmental sustainability and efficient utilization of natural resources. These compounds are widely used in organic synthesis as selective oxidants and environmentally friendly reagents. Synthetic uses of hypervalent iodine reagents in halogenation reactions, various oxidations, rearrangements, aminations, C–C bond-forming reactions, and transition metal-catalyzed reactions are summarized and discussed. Recent discovery of hypervalent catalytic systems and recyclable reagents, and the development of new enantioselective reactions using chiral hypervalent iodine compounds represent a particularly important achievement in the field of hypervalent iodine chemistry. One of the goals of this Review is to attract the attention of the scientific community as to the benefits of...

Advances in Synthetic Applications of Hypervalent Iodine Compounds

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reactions of aromatic halides in the presence of various nucleophiles have undergone rapid development since the pioneering work of Heck and co-workers in 1974, such that nowadays a plethora of palladium catalysts are available for different carbonylative transformations. The carboxylic acid derivatives, aldehydes, and ketones prepared in this way are important intermediates in the manufacture of dyes, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and other industrial products. In this Review, the recent academic developments in this area and the first industrial processes are summarized.

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reactions of aryl halides and related compounds.

Electroorganic synthesis has become an established, useful, and environmentally benign alternative to classic organic synthesis for the oxidation or the reduction of organic compounds. In this context, the use of redox mediators to achieve indirect processes is attaining increased significance, since it offers many advantages compared to a direct electrolysis. Kinetic inhibitions that are associated with the electron transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface, for example, can be eliminated and higher or totally different selectivity can be achieved. In many cases, a mediated electron transfer can occur against a potential gradient, meaning that lower potentials are needed, reducing the probability of undesired side-reactions. In addition, the use of electron transfer mediators can help to avoid electrode passivation resulting from polymer film formation on the electrode surface. Although the principle of indirect electrolysis was established many years ago, new, exciting and useful developments continue to be made. In recent years, several new types of redox mediators have been designed and examined, a process that can be accomplished more efficiently and purposefully using modern computational tools. New protocols including, the development of double mediatory systems in biphasic media, enantioselective mediation and heterogeneous electrocatalysis using immobilized mediators have been established. Furthermore, the understanding of mediated electron transfer reaction mechanisms has advanced. This review describes progress in the field of electroorganic synthesis and summarizes recent advances.

Redox catalysis in organic electrosynthesis: basic principles and recent developments.

The recent groundbreaking developments in the application of diaryliodonium salts in cross-coupling reactions has brought this class of previously underdeveloped reagents to the forefront of organic chemistry. With the advent of novel, facile, and efficient synthetic routes to these compounds, many more applications can be foreseen. Herein we provide an overview of the historical and recent advances in the synthesis and applications of diaryliodonium salts.

Diaryliodonium Salts: A Journey from Obscurity to Fame

(Z)-β-Fluoro-α,β-unsaturated esters were stereoselectively synthesized from (Z)-2-fluoro-1-alkenyliodonium salts by the Pd-catalyzed methoxycarbonylation reaction. The reaction proceeded at room temperature and various functional groups on the substrate can tolerate the reaction conditions.

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Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)‐β‐Fluoro‐α,β‐unsaturated Esters from (Z)‐2‐Fluoro‐1‐alkenyliodonium Salts.

Alkynyliodonium salts can be directly prepared from alk-1-ynes by the reaction with iodosobenzene, tetrafluoroboric acid, and a catalytic amount of HgO.

Direct Synthesis of Alkynyl(phenyl)iodonium Salts from Alk-1-ynes.

(E)- and (Z)-(fluoroalkenyl)boronates were prepared stereospecifically by the reaction of 2-fluoroalkylideneiodonium ylide generated from (E)- or (Z)-(2-fluoroalkenyl)iodonium salts with di(p-fluorophenoxy)alkylboranes, followed by transesterification to pinacol esters. The resulting pinacol esters of (fluoroalkenyl)boranes were used for the stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted fluoroalkenes by cross-coupling reactions.

Stereoselective Synthesis of (E)‐ and (Z)‐Fluoroalkenylboronates Using 2‐Fluoroalkylideneiodonium Ylides Generated from (2‐Fluoro‐1‐alkenyl)iodonium Salts.

An efficient synthesis of fluorocyclopentenes is described. By treatment of (2-fluoroalkenyl)iodonium salts with potassium tert -butoxide, (α-fluoroalkylidene)carbenes were generated efficiently to give fluorocyclopentenes via 1,5-C–H insertion. Fluorocyclopentenes having a functionality, such as chlorine, acetoxy, or ketone, and a spiro fluorocyclopentene were synthesized in good yields.

An Efficient Synthesis of Fluorocyclopentenes Using Fluoroalkylidenecarbenes.

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of β-ketoesters to enones was achieved by using the salt of a readily available primary β-amino acid as the catalyst. The obtained Michael adducts were converted into enantioenriched 1,5-diketones in high yields through a common decarboxylation reaction under acidic conditions. A plausible reaction mechanism for the Michael addition reaction, which is supported by results of mechanistic studies that include DFT calculations, is also described.

Masanori Yoshida

Papers

Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)‐β‐Fluoro‐α,β‐unsaturated Esters from (Z)‐2‐Fluoro‐1‐alkenyliodonium Salts.

Direct Synthesis of Alkynyl(phenyl)iodonium Salts from Alk-1-ynes.

Stereoselective Synthesis of (E)‐ and (Z)‐Fluoroalkenylboronates Using 2‐Fluoroalkylideneiodonium Ylides Generated from (2‐Fluoro‐1‐alkenyl)iodonium Salts.

An Efficient Synthesis of Fluorocyclopentenes Using Fluoroalkylidenecarbenes.

Asymmetric Michael Addition of β‐Ketoesters to Enones Catalyzed by the Lithium Salt of a Primary β‐Amino Acid.