A molecular iodine mediated condensation-cyclization reaction for the synthesis of 4-aryl-NH-1,2,3-triazoles has been developed from readily available α-azido acetophenones NH-1,2,3-triazoles are an important class of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, and their derivatives exhibit widespread potent biological and pharmaceutical activities, such as inhibition of IDO, hMetAP2, HER2, and VIM-2, and anticancer activity ( Figure 1). [1] [a] azido ketone was not tolerated in this annulation reaction, and we could not gain the corresponding product 3t. Encouraged by the results described above, the scope of αazido ketones was further examined (Scheme 3). To our delight, when α-substituent was an electron-donating methyl or phenyl group, the corresponding products 3u-3w were obtained in moderate-to-good yields (58-82 %). Unfortunately, the substrate with an electron-withdrawing ester at α position was not tolerated in this cyclization reaction, and we could not obtain the corresponding product 3x.Scheme 3. Scope of α-azido ketones.In order to gain insight into the reaction mechanism, we performed a series of control experiments, as shown in Scheme 4. Initially, α-azido phenylethanone (1a) reacted with p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazide (2) in CH 3 CN at room temperature for 48 h leading to α-azido N-tosylhydrazone 1a′ with 68 % yield. If this reaction was carried out in the presence of iodine, the yield increased to 85 %, and the reaction time was shortened to 6 hours. Later, compound 1a′ could be transformed into the target product 3a in 89 % yield in the presence of TBHP in DMSO at 100°C for 3 h. These results indicated that iodine promoted the first condensation process, and 1a′ is a possible intermediate for this reaction. Scheme 4. Control experiments.Based on the abovementioned experimental results, a possible reaction mechanism for this reaction is proposed, as shown in Scheme 5 (using 3a as the example). Initially, α-azido phenyl-