Selenium-catalyzed iodohydrin formation from alkenes

A new simple method for catalyzed iodohydroxylation of alkenes using stoichiometric amounts of water is described. The iodohydrins were prepared in good yields from the corresponding alkenes using N-iodosuccinimide, 2 equiv of H2O, and catalytic amounts of diphenyl diselenide in MeCN. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.