Methyl 2-iodobenzoate may be used in the preparation of: N-substituted 4-methylene-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-isoquinolin-1-ones methyl diphenylacetylene-2-carboxylate methyl 2-heptynylphenylbenzoate (E)-2-[3-[3-[2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]-3-oxopropyl]benzoic acid methyl ester 4-(2-carbomethoxyphenyl)-3-(1-methylethoxy)cyclobut-3-ene-1,2-dione 3-(2-carbomethoxyphenyl)-4-methylcyclobuten-3-ene-1,2-dione 2-(ethylene acetal)