High-spin states in 2~were populated in the 2~ 4n) reaction using e-particles in the energy region 42-51 MeV. Prompt and delayed y-rays as well as conversion electrons were studied in addition to excitation functions, angular distributions and 7-7 coincidences. In this way a stretched cascade of y-rays from a level at 8125.9 keV was found to feed the previously known isomeric 9-level at 2185.7 keV. Spins and parities were established for levels up to and including a 19-level at 6098.0 keV. The levels with J== 17-and 19-at excitation energies of 5664.3 and 6098.0 keV are likely to be due to the simple p~/1 i~z and f5721 ii-~2 configurations. The agreement between calculated and experimental energies for all observed levels in the region J=9-19 is very good in cases where the empirical two-particle interactions used are satisfactorily well known. Above the 19-level there are three weakly populated levels at 7402.1, 7849.2 and 8125.9 keV, which are likely to have J > 20. None of these energies agrees with the calculated value 7695 +20 keV for the 20 + state of the ila~2 configuration which has the highest angular momentum produced by the four valence neutron holes. This apparent anomaly can be understood if the yrast levels with J > 20 have angular momentum contribution from the core. It seems likely that the states at 7402.1, 7849.2 and 8125.9 keV are due to proton core excited states of the type Irh9/2 h11~/zXVp~/2 i1~/2 with J==20 + and J==21 + and =h9/2 h;11/2 x vpT/1 f57~ i~32/2 with J==22 + or 23 +, respectively. The state at 8126keV has the highest energy so far directly observed in a stretched cascade of y-rays from the decay of a heavy nucleus produced in (e, x n) reactions.