Hypoiodite reaction: the fission of 1,2-diols
Abstract
The α-cleavage reaction of vicinal diols with mercuric oxide–iodine reagent is shown to predominate over oxidation and abstraction processes. The stability of the O–I bond in 4-phenylbutanol has been investigated and conditions which favour homolysis have been shown to give products arising from γ-abstraction reactions.