Iodohydrins are useful intermediates in organic synthesis for the preparation of epoxides. Herein is reported the preparation of iodohydrins in good yields by the reaction of alkenes (ciclohexene, styrene, a-methylstyrene, and 1-octene) with iodine and water at room temperature, in presence of acid commercial clays (K-10 and KSF) and natural Brazilian clays (F-101 and F-117), being the best results obtained with Brazilian clays (61-90%). The XRD results confirmed that the clays belong to the smectite clay-mineral group and K-10, KSF and F-117 have other clay-minerals in their structures.
iodohydrins; clay-minerals; green chemistry; alkenes; eletrophilic addition