Regio- and Stereoselective Iodoacyloxylations of Alkynes

A new method for the regioselective and stereoselective iodoacyloxylation of alkynes has been developed. This protocol utilizes a combination of an iodobenzene dicarboxylate and iodine to functionalize a series of activated and unactivated alkynes in an entirely selective and predictable fashion. The resultant iodo-enol esters were subsequently coupled with boronic acids to afford tetrasubstituted alkene derivatives, which could be further converted to the corresponding 1,1-disubstituted acetophenone.