Thank you, looks interesting.
These might be related:
Isomerisation of Epoxides to Carbonyl Compounds by Iodides in DMSO (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/epox-iso.iodide-dmso.html)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/epox-iso.iodide-dmso.html)
Phenyl acetones by electrolytic oxidation (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/guest.phenylacetone.txt)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/guest.phenylacetone.txt)
In the second reference, electrolytically prepared epoxides are rearranged to carbonyl functional groups with LiI or LiBr. Maybe ZnBr2 will work as well?
Here is a follow-up to the J. Chem. Educ. article mentioned above. I'll upload the first part later.
Synthesis of Zinc Iodide Revisited
Stephen DeMeo
J. Chem. Educ. 80, 796 (2003) (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/zinc.iodide.synth-2.pdf)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/pdf/zinc.iodide.synth-2.pdf)
Abstract
Two inquiry-based labs that complement a previously published activity in this Journal, "The Synthesis and Decomposition of Zinc Iodide: Model Reactions for Investigating Chemical Change in the Introductory Laboratory", are described. These two experiments could be of interest to introductory chemistry instructors at the college or high school level who teach their students about limiting and excess stoichiometry as well as acid–base chemistry. The inquiry-based experiments center on alternate reaction pathways involving a second synthesis of zinc iodide and a side reaction that produces zinc hydroxide. In the first experiment, students draw upon their understanding of solubility and molarity to propose a synthesis of zinc iodide from a double replacement reaction involving zinc sulfate and barium iodide. Students compare the double replacement reaction with the elemental synthesis in terms of percentage yield, efficiency, safety, and cost. In the second experiment, students are asked to identify a white precipitate that forms during a synthesis of zinc iodide from its elements when a specific reagent, acetic acid, is not used. By referring to the literature and conducting qualitative tests, students determine that the white product is zinc hydroxide, a base produced from the hydrolysis of zinc ion.