As a reagent for organic chemistry, it is used as an oxidant and chlorinating agent.

Single-crystal X-ray crystallography has been used to determine its structure; as can be predicted by VSEPR theory, it adopts a T-shaped geometry about the central iodine atom.

It is prepared by passing chlorine gas through a solution of iodobenzene in chloroform, from which it precipitates.

[4] An alternate preparation involving the use of chlorine generated in situ by the action of sodium hypochlorite on hydrochloric acid has also been described.

[7] In organic synthesis, iodobenzene dichloride is used as a reagent for the selective chlorination of alkenes.