The iodination of NH or N-benzylpyrazoles using elemental iodine in the presence of CAN as the in situ oxidant is a mild and efficient method to prepare 4-iodopyrazoles containing even electron-withdrawing substituents. The reaction is regioselective since the iodine atom preferred pyrazole instead of the benzyl group, and the 4-pyrazolic position instead of other possible positions in the heterocycle.
