Thiourea-I-2 as Lewis Base-Lewis Acid Cooperative Catalysts for Iodochlorination of Alkene with In Situ-Generated I-Cl

Thiourea-I-2 as Lewis base Lewis acid cooperative catalysts are developed for the iodochlorination of alkenes with in situ-generated iodine monochloride (I-Cl). The Lewis base Lewis acid cooperative system is sufficient to generate I-Cl from I-2 with a chlorinating reagent at low temperature. Based on the solid-state structure of the active species, thiourea I-2 cooperatively captures I-Cl. By taking advantage of I-Cl generation and the control of I-Cl at low temperature, the thiourea I-2 cooperative system suppresses side reactions that arise from highly reactive free I-Cl.