They consist of either ammonium itself or an alkylammonium with various substituents as cation, paired with a hypoiodite anion as the active oxidant.
The hypoiodite is generated in situ from the analogous iodide reagent using peroxides, oxone, peracids, or other strong oxidizing agents.
The iodide is regenerated, meaning the reaction runs with the iodide/hypoiodite as a catalyst in the presence of excess of the original strong oxidizing agent.
[4] Similar to the β-ketolactone reaction, oxidative ether formation can be performed at the alpha position of various ketones.
The guanidinium cation has the added benefit of forming multiple ionic interactions or hydrogen bonds to the substrates.