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Synlett 2012(1): 155-156  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1290114
SPOTLIGHT
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Molecular Iodine

Xin Wen*
College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P. R. of China
e-Mail: wenxin0219@163.com;
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Publication History

Publication Date:
13 December 2011 (online)

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Introduction

Molecular iodine is a bluish-black solid under standard conditions. It is highly soluble in nonpolar organic solvents and only slightly soluble in water owing to its lack of polarity. However, the solubility in water may be substantially increased in the presence of dissolved iodides due to the formation of triiodide ions. Since first discovered by Bernard Courtois in 1811 [¹b] the interest in utilization of molecular iodine in organic chemistry has increased dramatically due to its readily available, convenient, relatively cheap and environmental benign characteristics over the toxic heavy metals or complex regents. Many types of reactions can be promoted by iodine, [¹] [²] such as the oxidation of alcohols, C-C/C-N bond formation and formation of heterocycles, etc.