Introduction Hypervalent iodine(III) reagents are now extensively used in organic synthesis.
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In particular, phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) has received a lot of attention due to its low toxicity, ready availability, easy handling, and reactivity similar to that of heavy-metal reagents or anodic oxidation. Regarding the oxidation of phenol derivatives with PIFA, in most cases, the reaction proceeds via the intermediate in which the phenolic oxygen reacts with the iodine center of the hypervalent iodine reagent, followed by the nucleophilic attack of the alcohol,
[2 ]
alkene,
[3 ]
amide,
[4 ]
carboxylic acid,
[5 ]
oxime,
[6 ]
fluoride ion,
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water
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or electron-rich aromatic ring
[9 ]
to give the cross-conjugated cyclohexadienone either via an inter- or an intramolecular reaction pathway.