Iodolactonization: Past and Present Examples

Commercially available iodine has played an important role in organic synthesis. The review describes the use of iodine in the synthesis of several iodolactones and lactones. The cyclization of nonconjugated unsaturated acids, diallyl- hydroxyacetic acids, benzyl carbamates, norbornene derivatives, aryl-allenoic acids, olefinic amides and γ-methallyl malonic acids with iodine leads to the formation of iodolactones. This article is dedicated to Mr. Victor Marcos Simon on the occasion of his 95th Birthday.