Highly Selective Catalytic Synthesis of (E,E)-1,4-Diiodobuta-1,3-diene via Atom-Efficient Addition of Acetylene and Iodine: A Versatile (E,E)-1,3-Diene Building Block in Cross-Coupling Reactions

The first practical procedure is reported for the synthesis of (E,E)-1,4-diiodobuta-1,3-diene from very simple starting materials (acetylene and I2). A pure crystalline product was obtained in a green chemical procedure utilizing the key advantages of highly selective Pt-catalyzed transformation and 100% atom efficiency of the addition reaction. The Pt catalyst was recovered and re-used in the reaction without a noticeable loss of activity.