Room Temperature ICl-Induced Dehydration/Iodination of 1-Acyl-5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydro-1<i>H</i>-pyrazoles. A Selective Route to Substituted 1-Acyl-4-iodo-1<i>H</i>-pyrazoles

A number of new functionally substituted 1-acyl-5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoles have been prepared in moderate to excellent yields from the corresponding 2-alkyn-1-ones. The resulting dihydropyrazoles undergo dehydration and iodination in the presence of ICl and Li2CO3 at room temperature to provide 1-acyl-4-iodo-1H-pyrazoles.