11 additives gave either a very fast (NaI, CsI) or an instantaneous exothermic reaction (ZnI2, SnI2). The stoichiometry of the catalytic mixtures has been varied (Table I, entries 2-6), and the catalytic power for the BiCl3 plus xNaI system was greatest when x= 3. Thus, other systems employed a Bi/I ratio of 1: 3. Ultrasound has a marked influence on the activity of these catalysts. Commercial BiC13 treated in CH2C12 during 1 h with ultrasound ...