Triiodoisocyanuric acid: a new and convenient reagent for regioselective coiodination of alkenes and enolethers with oxygenated nucleophiles

The reaction of triiodoisocyanuric acid (prepared from I2 and trichloroisocyanuric acid in 90% yield) with alkenes in the presence of oxygenated nucleophilic solvents (alcohols, AcOH and H2O) led to the corresponding β-iodoethers, β-iodoacetates and iodohydrins, in 66-98% isolated yield. Enolethers reacted with triiodoisocyanuric acid in MeOH to produce dialkylacetals (70-83%).