I2O in Solution and Volatility

Abstract I(+1) formed by reacting iodine with KIO 3 in 96% sulfuric acid is partly in the form of I 2 O that can be extracted in dichloromethane (DCM). The extraction process is an interesting coupling between phase transfer and chemical reactions allowing to obtain solutions containing nearly no iodine. I 2 O solutions can also be obtained in other chlorinated solvents and forms probably an ionic complex in acetonitrile. UV–vis spectra are presented (e (I 2 O, 442 nm) = 259 in DCM). Distillations of I 2 O solutions and gas phase diffusion at laboratory temperature show that I 2 O is a volatile compound that should be considered in atmospheric chemistry.