A new motif for iodine(III)-based halogen-bond donors consisting of a 1,3-phenylene core and two cyclic five-membered diaryliodonium(III) wings was designed and its potential as a catalyst was evaluated. Its properties were analyzed in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and in solution by benchmark catalytic activation of a nitro-Michael addition between 5-methoxyindole and trans-β-nitrostyrene.
Key words
halogen bonding - hypervalent iodine - structure–activity relationship - organocatalysis - diaryliodonium