Do a search for this file in the stim forum, the accompanying post is by "RaG".
hi.from.iodine-alumina.pdf
'Iodine reacts with a diverse group of unsaturated substrates in the presence of dehydrated alumina. Aromatic
substrates, for example, are iodinated a t room temperature by electrophilic aromatic substitution. The yields
of the iodinated products can be improved dramatically by running the reaction at 110 "C. Aniline, even at 100
"C, is unreactive, presumably because its nitrogen lone pair is complexed to surface aluminum cations or protons.
Alkenes react readily with HI, formed in the reaction of surface hydroxyls with I,, to form alkyl iodides by an
ionic mechanism involving carbocations. This is an excellent method for the synthesis of alkyl iodides from alkenes.
Alkynes, on the other hand, add I, (stereospecific, anti) under very mild conditions to form vinyl diiodides in
excellent yield. The behavior of Br, with cyclohexene on alumina is considerably different than that of I2 with
cyclohexene. Two products are formed: trans-l,2-dibromocyclohexane ( I ) , which is formed in solution during
workup, and trans-1-bromo-2-chlorocyclohexane (2), which is formed on the surface. The chlorine in 2 arises
from intrinsic chloride already on the alumina and CCl,, the solvent used to adsorb Br, onto alumina. Further
experiments demonstrate that cyclohexene undergoes intergranular hopping, but that Br, does not.'
I haven't looked over the article in ages, but by the looks of it they are talking about reactions on aromatics and not alcohols and amines like pfed. But still pfed has a benzene aromatic ring so theres a connection there.
I guess it would complicate ratios too...
Alumina isn't difficult to obtain at all,it's used in ceramics etc. Apparently it's a nice dessicant too, very hygroscopic, but doesn't dissolve in water, which is useful, because it means you can set it above a steaming flask without the steam dissolving the dessicant and polluting what is being dehydrated in the flask. (been there)
But most here will be hardpressed dehydrating it for re-use.