[Bis(aryloxyacetoxy)iodo]benzenes

Abstract

The title compounds (3) have been prepared and their chemical properties studied. With iodine they give aryloxymethyl aryloxyacetates (4) through the intermediacy of aryloxyacetyl hypoiodites and α-iodoanisoles. The former are unstable but have been trapped with pyridine to give N-iodopyridinium aryloxyacetates, whereas the latter are stable and react independently with compounds (3) to afford the acetates (4). The thermolysis of (3) has been studied and, besides esters (4), aryl aryloxyacetates are also formed. The mechanism of the thermolysis is briefly discussed.