A new approach to the stereospecific diiodination of alkynes under mild conditions has been developed. This protocol employs ammonium persulfate as an oxidant and iodide as an iodine source, and provides a highly efficient and general method for the preparation of a broad range of (E)-diiodoalkenes in water.
Key words
persulfate salts - diiodination - alkenes - alkynes - water