A catalytic one-step process for the production of CF3I by reacting, in the presence of a source of oxygen, a source of iodine a reactant of the formula:CF3Rwhere R is —COOH, —COX, —CHO, —COOR2 and —SO2X, where R2 is an alkyl group and X is selected from chlorine, bromine and iodine. The catalyst may be a metal salt such as salts of Cu, Hg, Pt, Pd, Co, Mn, Rh, Ni, V, Tl, Ba, Cs, Ca, K and Ge and mixtures thereof, preferably on a support, such as MgO, BaO and CaO, BaCO3, CsNO3, Ba (NO3)2, activated carbon, basic alumina, and ZrO2.