Sodium iodide/boron trifluoride etherate: A mild reagent system for the conversion of allylic and benzylic alcohols into corresponding iodides and sulfoxides into sulfides

A variety of allylic and benzylic alcohols have been converted into the corresponding iodides using NaI/BF3.Et2O. Selective conversion of allylic and benzylic alcohols in preference to primary saturated alcohols has also been demonstrated. Further, the same reagent system has been used to convert sulfoxides into sulfides under mild conditions.