Benzylic-acetoxylation of alkylbenzenes with PhI(OAc)2 in the presence of catalytic amounts of TsNH2 and I2

Treatment of alkylbenzenes with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene in the presence of catalytic amounts of p-toluenesulfonamide or p-nitrobenzenesulfonamide, and molecular iodine in 1,2-dichloroethane at 60 °C gave the corresponding (α-acetoxy)alkylbenzenes in good to moderate yields. The present reaction is a simple method for the introduction of an acetoxy group to the benzylic position of alkylbenzenes.