Acyl Iodides in Organic Synthesis: I. Reactions with Alcohols

Reaction of acyl iodides RC(O)I (R = Me, Ph) with alcohols R'OH (R' = Me, Et, i-Pr, t-Bu, CH₂ = CHCH₂, HCCCH₂) provides in the corresponding organyl iodides R'I. Unlike that 2-chloroethanol and phenol (R' = CH₂CH₂Cl, Ph) react with RC(O)I in the same way as with acyl chlorides yielding esters RCO₂R'. This reaction path occurs partially also with methanol and ethanol.