(4. IV. 95) 'Bare' FeO' reacts in the gas phase with norbornane with collision efficiency, and the most prominent cationic products correspond to [FeC,H,]+ (32%), [FeC,H,] Although the reactions are preceded and/or accompanied by partial H/D exchange, the isotope distribution in the product ions clearly points to a preferential endo-attack of bare FeO+, with an endolexo-ratio of ca. 10.3 and kinetic isotope effects kH/kD for the endo-abstraction of 2.4 and of 7.7 for approaching an exo-C-H bond. The preferred endo-approach of bicyclo[2.2.l]heptane by 'hare' FeO' is in distinct contrast to the P-450-mediated or the iron(ll1)porphyrin-catalyzed hydroxylation of this substrate which favor reactions at the exo-face.Selective 0-atom transfer from molecular oxygen to unactivated organic substrates such as saturated and/or unsaturated hydrocarbons is of fundamental importance in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical industry [ 11. In biological systems, oxidative transformations are mediated by the iron-centered cytochrome P-450 [2] and related enzyme systems. P-450 is known to mediate hydroxylation of, for example, fatty acids, arenes, as well as the oxidative metabolization of xenobiotic compounds. These enzymes have received considerable interest, since there exist no adequate 'synthetic analogs' in preparative organic chemistry. In condensed-phase studies, addressing the question of the stereochemistry of the hydroxylation of norbornane (1) by reconstituted P-450 [3] as well as by highly halogenated Fe" '-porphyrins [4], the experimental findings point to the absence of carbocationic skeletal rearrangements, and the loss of stereochemistry together with large primary kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) provide strong evidence for a radical cage rebound mechanism (see Scheme I ) [2] [3] [5]. Abstraction of both exo-and endo-H-atoms from C(2) via a free-radical process was also observed, and the investigation of all-exo-(2,3,5,6-*H4)norbornane (4) demonstrated a substantial loss of stereospecificity. However, the P-450 and the Fell'-porphyrins have in common a large exo/ endo-preference [4].