IODATION OF EPOXY COMPOUND AND PRODUCTION OF IODOHYDRIN

PURPOSE:To obtain the title compound useful as a synthetic raw material for allylic alcohols, etc., useful as synthetic intermediates for drugs and agricultural chemicals, solvents, etc., in high selectivity and directly, by iodating an epoxy group-containing compound with GeI2. CONSTITUTION:An epoxy group-containing compound as a raw material is reacted with GeI2 which is dissolved in a solvent such as dimethylformamide or diethylformamide to give the aimed compound. The reaction temperature is room temperature when the epoxide compound of the raw material is cyclohexene oxide, -20 deg.C when the raw material is butylene oxide and -40 deg.C when the raw material is styrene oxide or butadiene monoepoxide. The amount of GeI2 used is preferably 0.5-1 equivalent based on 1 equivalent epoxy group. As another method wherein the raw material, GeI2 and water are used, preferably the raw material is iodated and hydrolyzed with water to give the aimed compound.