m-Chloroiodobenzene is cleaved to chlorobenzene and iodide ion when exposed to the combination of a source of reactive radicals and a high concentration of sodium methoxide in methanol. Effective radical sources include 1-phenyl-2-benzenesulfonhydrazide (3) (with atmospheric oxygen), peroxydisulfate ion, benzenediazonium ion, phenylazotriphenylmethane, and azobisisobutyronitrile. The chlorobenzene formed in CHsOD solution is substantially free of deuterium and m-chlorobiphenyl is formed in a benzene-rich solvent; the intermediacy of rn-chlorophenyl radicals is indicated. Nitrobenzene, even in small amount, largely inhibits deiodination. The cyclic mechanism of eq 6-11 is proposed. Its unique features are formation of aCH20-from -CHzOH in an acid-base reaction and electron transfer from .CHzO-to the aryl iodide, with concomitant or subsequent ejection of iodide ion and formation of aryl radical.he reaction of 1-(2-iodo-4-chlorophenyl)-2-ben-T zenesulfonhydrazide (1) with sodium methoxide in methanol was found to produce chlorobenzene, an ~~--@H--KH-SO,C,H, ' I 1 unexpected product, in addition to m-chloroiodobenzene and other products which were anti~ipated.~ Happer, who performed that experiment, obtained evidence that the chlorobenzene resulted from deiodination of the m-chloroiodobenzene under the conditions of the reaction. Moreover, his experiments suggested that for deiodination to occur, it was necessary to provide both a high concentration of sodium methoxide and a 1-aryl-2-benzenesulfonhydrazide.Thus, m-chloroiodobenzene underwent deiodination on treatment with l-(o-chlorophenyl)-2-p-toluenesulfonhydrazide in 2 M methanolic sodium methoxide, but not in the alcoholic base alone or with benzenesulfonamide in alcoholic base.Hydrazide-Induced Deiodinations. Our investigation of the deiodination reaction therefore began with the system m-chloroiodobenzene (2)-phenyl-2-benzenesulfonhydrazide (3)-sodium methoxide-methanol. A series of experiments was performed to reveal the 2 3 effects of several variables. In these experiments, 240 mg (0.001 mole) of m-chloroiodobenzene was treated