Selective oxidation: the success of the title reaction is caused by the strong electron donation from the amidate moiety of the dpaq ligand to the iron center (dpaq=2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)]amino-N-quinolin-8-yl-acetamidate). This process facilitates the O-O bond heterolysis of the intermediate Fe(III)OOH species to generate a selective oxidant without forming highly reactive hydroxyl radicals.

We have reported previously that an iron(III) complex supported by an anionic pentadentate monoamido ligand, dpaq(H) (dpaq(H) =2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)]amino-N-quinolin-8-yl-acetamido), promotes selective CH hydroxylation with H2 O2 with high regioselectivity. Herein, we report on the preparation of Fe(III) -dpaq derivatives that have a series of substituent groups at the 5-position of a quinoline moiety in the parent ligand dpaq(H) (dpaq(R) , R: OMe, H, Cl, and NO2 ), and examine them with respect to their catalytic activity in CH hydroxylation with H2 O2 . As the substituent group becomes more electron-withdrawing, both the selectivity and the turnover number increase, but the selectivity of epoxidation shows the opposite trend.

Selektive Oxidation: Der Erfolg der Titelreaktion (siehe Schema) ist der stark elektronenschiebenden Wirkung der Amidathälfte des dpaq‐Liganden zum Eisenzentrum zu verdanken (dpaq=2‐[Bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)]amino‐N‐chinolin‐8‐yl‐acetamidat). Dieser Prozess erleichtert die Heterolyse der O‐O‐Bindung der intermediären FeIIIOOH‐Spezies, sodass ohne die Entwicklung hoch reaktiver Hydroxylradikale ein selektives Oxidationsmittel gebildet wird.

A mononuclear iron(III) complex of a noncyclic tetradentate monoamido ligand, Fe(III)mpaq, catalyses the oxidation of Orange II, guaiacol, ABTS and Amplex Red with H2O2 in aqueous solutions at neutral pH. Under identical conditions, other structurally related nonheme iron complexes showed only negligible activities.

The preparation and characterisation of an oxoiron(IV) species with monoamido ligation are described. Reactivity studies revealed the important role of the amido ligand in enhancing the ability of oxoiron(IV) complexes to promote hydrogen atom transfer from external alkanes.