Chemical and Biological Oxidation of Organohalides. Peracid Oxidation of Alkyl Iodides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00546a020

The peracid oxidation of seven alkyl iodides has been examined in nonpolar solvents.The stoichiometry for the reaction is shown to be (8 + n)ArCO3H + 6RI + 3H2O -> (8 + n)ArCO2H + 6ROH + 2I2 + I2O5 + (n/2)O2 (R = n-heptyl, Ar = m-ClC6H4, n = 4-16).Evidence is presented for the intermediacy of an alkyliodosyl compound in these oxidations.Primary alkyl iodides give exclusively displacement products, whereas secondary iodides give a mixture of products resulting from displacement, elimination, and α-carbon oxidation.Tertiary iodides give products resulting form displacement and elimination.Mechanisms for the formation of these products are presented.The overall rate of peracid mediated reaction is dependent upon the alkyl group: tertiary > secondary > methyl <*> primary iodides.The bioactivation of organohalides via an analogous halogen oxidation process is discussed.