A convenient iodination method for alcohols using cesium iodide/methanesulfonic acid and its comparison using cesium iodide/ p -toluenesulfonic acid or cesium iodide/aluminium chloride

In situ generation of hydrogen iodide from cesium iodide/methanesulfonic acid was found to be an attractive reagent combination for the conversion of alkyl, allyl, and benzyl alcohols to their corresponding iodides under mild conditions. The method is compared with that using cesium iodide/p-toluenesulfonic acid or cesium iodide/aluminium chloride.