Comparative Reactivity of Hypervalent Iodine Oxidants in Metalloporphyrin-Catalyzed Oxygenation of Hydrocarbons: Iodosylbenzene Sulfate and 2-Iodylbenzoic Acid Ester as Safe and Convenient Alternatives to Iodosylbenzene

A comparative study of the reactivity of 2-iodylbenzoic acid isopropyl ester (IBX-ester), oligomeric iodosylbenzene sulfate [(PhIO)(3)center dot SO3](n), and iodosylbenzene in the oxygenation of anthracene in the presence of metal porphyrin or phthalocyanine complexes is reported. Results of this study demonstrate that oligomeric iodosylbenzene sulfate and the IBX-ester are the most reactive oxygenating reagents that can be used as a safe and convenient alternative to the thermally unstable and potentially explosive iodosylbenzene.