A simple and highly stereoselective method has been developed for the synthesis of (Z)-β-iodo Baylis-Hillman adducts using CeCl 3 .7H 2 O/NaI as an inexpensive and readily available reagent system. High conversions and enhanced Z-selectivity together with the environmentally benign nature of the CeCl 3 /NaI reagent system makes this method an attractive alternative to established methods.