Molecular Iodine-Mediated α-Iodination of Carbonyl Compounds

The electrophilic properties associated with iodine have been exploited in recent years to effect α-halogenation of carbonyl compounds and their α,β-unsaturated derivatives. In this review, molecular iodine is presented as a readily-available and easy-to-handle reagent to effect α-halogenation of carbonyl compounds in the presence or absence of catalysts.