The direct α-iodination of various ketones using iodine-ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate in acetic acid or alcohol gave the corresponding α-iodo ketones in high yields. The effect of cerium salt on the iodination of ketones, and the iodination of 5α-cholestan-3-one using several methods are also discussed. In the reaction of 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone and unsymmetrical ketones, such as 2-hexanone and 2-heptanone, using methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol, the regioselective iodination product was obtained. In the case of bromination, the reaction of ketones with bromine and ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate also yielded the corresponding α-bromo ketones.

Direct α-iodination of some ketones using iodine–cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate in acetic acid or methanol, gave the corresponding α-iodoketone in high yield. In the case of 2-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, and 2-heptanone in methanol, the regioselective products were obtained.

The reaction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one derivatives with iodine–cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate in alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 1-butanol) under refluxing, gave the corresponding alkyl phenyl ethers in good yields. In the case of diol (ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, and 1,4-butanediol), phenoxyalkanol derivatives were obtained. The present method was also applicable to oxidative rearrangement of isophorone.