Metal-Free Iodine-Mediated Deoxygenation of Alcohols in the Position α to Electron-Withdrawing Groups

Link to DOI – 10.1002/ejoc.201800051

Eur. JOC, 2018, 13, 1538-1545

The use of a substoichiometric amount of molecular iodine in the presence of PPh₃ and pyridine effects a direct deoxygenation of primary and secondary alcohols in positions α to a variety of activating electron-withdrawing groups, including ketones, esters, amides, imides and nitrile groups.