The Reaction of P₂I₄ and N,N-dimethylformamide

Abstract

P₂I₄ readily reacts with DME to give dimethyl-dodomethy leneammonium iodide, a compound of limited utility as a formylating agent.

Although diphosphorus tetraiodide (P₂I₄) has been known for many years, it has only recently sparked interest among organic chemists for use as a synthetic reagent. We initially became interested in P₂I₄ from a report that it cleanly reduced sulfoxides to sulfides.¹