Methyl ketone derivatives can be accessed from5-oxo-1-alkynesin an iodine-initiated hydration of the terminal alkynes. Use of molecular iodine in this manner is novel, inexpensive and a greener alternative to the traditional use of transition metal catalysts. Herein, we report the results of a methodology study which sheds light on the underlying mechanism of this new, metal-free reaction. Our findings indicate that the hydration of the alkyne proceeds via an important anchimeric assistance in which the neighboring keto group participates with a 5-exo¬-dig cyclization.