A monocarboxylate-bridged diiron(iii) μ-oxido complex that catalyzes alkane oxidation by hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

Reaction of the ligand 2-(N-isopropyl-N-{(2-pyridyl)methyl}aminomethyl)-6-(N-(carboxymethyl)-N-((2-pyridyl)-methyl)amino-methyl)-4-methylphenol (H2IPCPMP) with two equivalents of Fe(ClO4)2 and two equivalents of sodium pivalate in air leads to the formation of the μ-oxido, μ-carboxylato-bridged diiron complex [{Fe(H-IPCPMP)}2(μ-O)(Piv)]ClO4 (1) (Piv = pivalate). Complex 1 is capable of catalysing the oxidation of cyclohexane or 1,2-cis-dimethylcyclohexane by hydrogen peroxide, leading to the formation of the corresponding cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, as well as a small amount of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide.