Diiodosilane (DIS), which has never been used previously in organic synthesis, has been shown to exhibit properties and reactivities that are complementary to those of iodotrimethylsilane. This new reagent was used to cleave and deoxygenate ethers and alcohols with high selectivity for secondary oxygen functions. Synthesis of DIS is easily and rapidly carried out by reacting phenylsilane with iodine.
