Recent Advances in Iodine-Mediated Radical Reactions
Wen Yang1, Jian Guo2, Samual Hee2,3
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Province Engineering Research Center of Ecological Chemical Industry, Jiujiang Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Application, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, 332005, People's Republic of China.
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis
|September 2, 2025
Summary
This review updates recent advances in iodine-mediated radical reactions for organic synthesis. It categorizes mechanisms, focusing on covalent/noncovalent bond formation, radical generation, and peroxide decomposition pathways.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Radical Chemistry
- Synthetic Methodology
Background:
- Iodine-mediated radical reactions offer alternatives to traditional ionic pathways in organic synthesis.
- Significant progress has been made in this field over the last two decades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive update on iodine-mediated radical reactions in organic synthesis from 2015 to mid-2024.
- To organize these reactions based on their mechanistic pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature reporting iodine-mediated radical reactions.
- Classification of reaction mechanisms into four categories based on radical initiation.
Main Results:
- Detailed overview of four mechanistic pathways: covalent X-I bond formation, noncovalent N···I bond assisted homolysis, direct iodine radical generation (photochemical, thermal, electrochemical), and iodine-induced peroxide decomposition via SET.
- Compilation of recent advancements in iodine-mediated radical reactions.
Conclusions:
- Iodine-mediated radical reactions are a versatile tool in modern organic synthesis.
- This review serves as a valuable resource and inspiration for future research in this rapidly developing field.
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