Regiospecific one-pot synthesis of diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates from arylboronic acids and aryl iodides.

Diaryliodonium salts have recently received considerable attention as mild arylation reagents in organic synthesis. This paper describes a regiospecific, sequential one-pot synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates, which are the most popular salts in metal-catalyzed arylations. The protocol is fast and high-yielding and has a large substrate scope. Furthermore, the corresponding diaryliodonium triflates can conveniently be obtained via an in situ anion exchange.