We have developed a method for recyclable hypervalent-iodine-mediated direct dehydrogenative α,β′- bifunctionalization of β-ketoesters and β-diketones under metal-free conditions, which affords a straightforward way to synthesize benzo-fused 2,3-dihydrofurans. This efficient, mild method, which has a wide substrate scope and good functional-group tolerance, was used for the multistep synthesis of the protected aglycone of a naturally occurring phenolic glycoside. A mechanism involving Michael addition to an enone intermediate and subsequent oxidative cyclization is proposed.

Benzylic primary alcohols can be directly converted into symmetrical 1,3-diarylureas or substituted benzamides via an one-pot oxidative reaction using the combined reagent of phenyliodine diacetate and sodium azide. This new reaction constitutes a step-economical way to prepare symmetric 1,3-diarylureas or substituted benzamides depending upon the substituents on the phenyl rings of starting alcohols. The sodium acetate generated in situ from the ligand exchange between phenyliodine diacetate and sodium azide plays the pivotal role in the formation of 1,3-diarylureas. In addition, it is also found that various secondary alcohols can be readily oxidized to their corresponding ketones in excellent yields using the same reagent system of phenyliodine diacetate and sodium azide. Generally, secondary alcohols are preferentially oxidized to the corresponding ketones in the presence of primary ones with the limited amounts of phenyliodine diacetate and sodium azide.

p-Iodotoluene difluoride (p-Tol-IF₂) has been found to be a general reagent for the effective introduction of various oxygen-containing functionalities including tosyloxy, mesyloxy, acetoxy, phosphoryloxy, methoxy, ethoxy and isopropoxy at the α-position of β-dicarbonyl compounds. These transformations can be readily realized by the use of the combined reagent of p-iodotoluene difluoride and various oxygen-containing nucleophilic compounds such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, acetic acid, diphenyl phosphate, methanol, ethanol and propan-2-ol under mild conditions, respectively. And, the in situ generated hypervalent iodine(III) species via ligand exchange between p-iodotoluene difluoride and the respective oxygen-containing nucleophiles are believed to be the real oxidizing agents in such transformations.

Oxone has been found to be a highly efficient reagent for the introduction of a hydroxy group at the α position of a variety of β-dicarbonyl compounds in the homogeneous solvent mixture of water and 1,4-dioxane at 60 °C.

An effective synthesis of carbamoyl azides directly from primary alcohols using iodobenzene dichloride in combination with sodium azide has been developed. Moreover, the same regent combination was also efficient for the oxidation of secondary alcohols to the corresponding ketones.