Thiourea–I2 as Lewis Base–Lewis Acid Cooperative Catalysts for Iodochlorination of Alkene with In Situ-Generated I–Cl

Thiourea–I2 as Lewis base–Lewis acid cooperative catalysts are developed for the iodochlorination of alkenes with in situ-generated iodine monochloride (I–Cl). The Lewis base–Lewis acid cooperative system is sufficient to generate I–Cl from I2 with a chlorinating reagent at low temperature. Based on the solid-state structure of the active species, thiourea–I2 cooperatively captures I–Cl. By taking advantage of I–Cl generation and the control of I–Cl at low temperature, the thiourea–I2 cooperative system suppresses side reactions that arise from highly reactive free I–Cl.