Recyclable Iodobenzene Supported on Magnetite for Oxidation of 4-Alkoxyphenols

A magnetite supported iodobenzene (1) substrate use for the oxidation of hydroquinones has recently been developed by Yakura et al. In the presence of co-oxidants, 1 acts as a hypervalent iodine species to catalyze the oxidation of 4-alkoxyphenol (2). Furthermore, due to its ferromagnetic nature, 1 can be recycled and recovered through the use of a general purpose magnet. Yakura et al. reported that catalytic activity was not significantly lost after 5 recycles of 1, and quinone (3) was still obtained in good yield.