Reaction of alkenes with hydrogen peroxide and sodium iodide:: A nonenzymatic biogenic-like approach to iodohydrins

An efficient protocol to synthesize iodohydrins from alkenes is presented. Reactions were conducted in aqueous media using safe and readily available sodium iodide (the most abundant form of the element), and a highly convenient oxidant such as hydrogen peroxide. Addition of a protic acid triggers a faster and efficient process, a role formally related to that played by haloperoxidase enzymes in naturally occurring transformations. The successful application of these conditions to multigram scale preparations and over natural products derivatives is also discussed.