Direct iodination of anilines by NIS in polar solvents (such
as DMSO) affords p-iodinated products
with up to >99% regioselectivity. Switching
to less polar solvents (such as benzene) in the presence of AcOH
inverts this outcome toward dramatically increased or preferential
generation of the o-isomers, also with
up to >99% regioselectivity. This finding was
exploited in the synthesis of 1,2-dichloro-3,4-diiodobenzene.
aromatic amine - electrophilic substitution - halogenation - regioselectivity - solvent
effects