Unprecedented direct oxygen atom transfer from hypervalent oxido-lambda(3)-iodanes to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds: synthesis of alpha,beta-epoxy carbonyl compounds.

Tetra-n-butylammonium oxido-lambda(3)-iodane, prepared from 1-hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one by reaction with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride, directly undergoes oxygen atom transfer to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, yielding epoxides.