Recent progress in the electrochemistry of hypervalent iodine compounds

Abstract

Hypervalent iodine compounds constitute a well-established and broadly used reagent family in organic synthesis. As they are usually either used in stoichiometric quantities or generated in situ from an aryl iodide precursor using a terminal oxidant, the associated waste and separation problems pose major challenges en route to sustainable and scalable processes. In this regard, the use of inexpensive electric current as a traceless oxidant for the in-situ generation of hypervalent iodine has emerged as a promising alternative. This review summarizes the advances over the past 2 years, including improved electrolysis protocols, new synthetic applications, and concepts for enhancing the sustainability of the reactions.