The Direct Iodination of Polyalkylbenzenes Bearing Bulky Groups

The following polyalkylbenzenes bearing bulky groups have been subjected to direct iodination using iodine and periodic acid, and the corresponding mono-iodinated products have been obtained in fairly high yields: 4-t-butyl-1, 2-dimethylbenzene, 5-t-butyl-1, 3-dimethylbenzene, 5-t-butyl-1, 2, 3-trimethylbenzene, 1, 2, 4, 5-tetraisopropylbenzene and p-di-t-butylbenzene. The polyiodination of polymethylbenzenes has also proceeded smoothly, giving polyiodo compounds in high yields. A comparison of various direct methods has proved the above reagent to be the best iodinating agent for a variety of polyalkylbenzenes.