The reaction of anilides with phenyliodine(III) bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA) in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), TFA-CHCl3, or hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol (HFIP) is described. When the acyl group of the anilide is highly electronegative, such as trifluoroacetyl, or the phenyl group is substituted with an electron-withdrawing group, the 4-iodophenyl group is transferred from PIFA to the amide nitrogen to