Indium(III) acetate-catalyzed intermolecular radical addition of organic iodides to electron-deficient alkenes.

In the presence of phenylsilane and a catalytic amount of indium(III) acetate, organic iodides added to electron-deficient alkenes in ethanol at room temperature. Both simple and functionalized organic iodides were applicable to this reaction. A plausible reaction mechanism involves the formation of indium hydride species by hydride transfer from silicon to indium and an indium hydride-mediated radical chain process.