The electrosynthesis of diaryliodonium salts

A simple, one-step procedure for the synthesis of diaryliodonium salts is described. It is shown that the electrochemical oxidation of an aryl iodide at a carbon felt anode in acetic acid/25% acetic anhydride/5% sulfuric acid in the presence of an arene leads to a diaryliodonium salt in good yield. The method allows the preparation of unsymmetrical, as well as symmetrical diaryliodonium salts.