Reaction of ethylacetoacetate with Iodine
Are you certain that the coupling itself isn't a radical reaction? 

The bond energy of an ordinary $\ce{C-I}$ bond is in the range of $210\,\mathrm{kJ\cdot\,mol^{-1}}$, which isn't a hell of a lot. Moreover, the resulting radical of an 1,3-dicarbonyl compound is nicely stabilized.