An aromatic iodination method, with iodic acid used as the only iodinating reagent.

Benzene, halobenzenes, and a number of more or less deactivated arenes,including nitrobenzene, readily reacted in anhydrous HIO3/AcOH/Ac2O/conc. H2SO4 mixtures to probably give ArIO2 intermediates or other hypervalent species (not isolated). The final reaction mixtures were poured into excess aq. Na2SO3 solution (a reductant) to give the purified iodinated products in 39-83% yields.