Iodine induced transformations of alcohols under solvent-free conditions

Iodine has been shown to be an efficient catalyst for transformations of alcohols under solvent-free conditions. In the presence of 5% of iodine, tertiary alcohols underwent dehydration forming the corresponding alkenes, while in the case of 2-phenylpropane-2-ol cyclodimerisation to 1,1,3-trimethyl-3-phenylindane took place. Secondary and primary benzyl alcohols under the same conditions gave the corresponding ethers.