Cyclic Vinyl(aryl)iodonium Salts: Synthesis and Reactivity.

A convenient, highly regioselective synthesis of five-membered cyclic vinyl(aryl)iodonium salts directly from β-iodostyrenes is presented. An X-ray crystal structure confirms the identity of these heterocycles. These λ3-iodanes can be converted rapidly into functionalized arylacetylenes by treatment with mild base or undergo SNV reactions with nonbasic nucleophiles.