A new motif for iodine(III)-based halogen-bond donors consisting of a 1,3-phenylene
core and two cyclic five-membered diaryliodonium(III) wings was designed and its potential
as a catalyst was evaluated. Its properties were analyzed in the solid state by X-ray
crystallography and in solution by benchmark catalytic activation of a nitro-Michael
addition between 5-methoxyindole and trans-β-nitrostyrene.
Key words
halogen bonding - hypervalent iodine - structure–activity relationship - organocatalysis
- diaryliodonium