Hydrogen Iodide-Promoted Reduction of β-Chlorovinamidinium Salts

Abstract
HI cleanly reduced chlorovinamidinium salts to the vinamidinium salt in essentially quantitative assay yield and 55-85% isolated yield following recrystallization. The reaction proceeds via protonation of the beta-carbon atom of the vinamidinium and dechlorination via the formation of I-Cl.