Characterization of species present in aqueous solutions of (hydroxy(mesyloxy)iodo)benzene and (hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo)benzene

(Hydroxy(mesyloxy)iodo)benzene (HMIB) and its tosyloxy analog (HTIB) are stable, crystalline organoiodine complexes which are soluble in water at natural pH. UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy was used, together with potentiometric titration data, to show the presence of dimeric mu-oxodiiodine species in aqueous solution. The data shows that HMIB and HTIB occur in aqueous solution as fully solvated ions, a free hydroxy(phenyl)iodonium ion and an organosulfonate ion.