Monopyridineiodine(I) chloride in ethanol as a new iodinating reagent for metal <em>β</em>-diketones and ketoneimines

702-703A direct iodination procedure is described for the introduction of iodine in the 3-position of the metal β-diketonates of Cr(III), Co(III), AI(III), Be(II), oxovanadium(IV), Ni(II) and Cu(II) employing monopyridine iodine(I) chloride in ethanol or methanol medium as a new iodinating reagent for β-diketonates. Unlike the reagents known already, monopyridineiodine(I) chloride gamma-iodinates at room temperature (in 10 min) giving 75-90% yield. On iodination, Ni(bzac)2 changes from the high spin to a low spin state due to steric factors. 3-Iodovandylacetylacetonate has been prepared for the first time using the present reagent