PhI(OTf)2 Does Not Exist (Yet)

PhI(OTf)2 has been used for the past 30 years as a strong I(III) oxidant for organic and inorganic transformations. It has been reported to be generated in situ from the reactions of either PhI(OAc)2 or PhI=O with two equivalents of TMS-OTf. In this report it is shown that neither of these reactions generate a solution with spectroscopic data consistent with PhI(OTf)2 and thus this compound should not be invoked as the species acting as the oxidant for transformations that have been associated with its use