2,2′-Binaphthylene phosphorochloridite (BINOL-PCl) as a bulky and efficient reagent for the conversion of primary and secondary alcohols into iodides, and tertiary alcohols stereo- and/or regioselectively into olefin(s)

Primary and secondary alcohols were transformed in high yield to corresponding iodides by 4-chloro-3,5-dioxaphosphacyclohepta [2,1-alpha; 3,4-alpha'] dinaphthalene (BINOL-PCl) at room temperature. The tertiary alcohols formed corresponding alkenes by stereo- and/or regioselective elimination reactions. (E)-1,2- Diphenyl-1-propene and 2,3-diphenyl-1-propene were stereoselectively obtained from 1,2-diphenyl-2-propanol, as representative. No (Z)-1,2-diphenyl-1-propene was observed. 2-Methyl-1-phenylcyclopentene and 3-methyl-2-phenylcyclopentene were regioselectively obtained from 2-methyl-1-phenylcyclopentanol. C-13 chemical shifts for the alpha-methylene carbon of some alkyl iodides empirically calculated through a very simple additive relationship lead to similar or even better values than the reported values. All primary alkyl iodides showed the iodine heavy atom effect on the alpha-methylene carbon chemical shift.