A novel iron complex containing an N,O-type bidentate oxazoline ligand: Synthesis, X-ray studies, DFT calculations and catalytic activity

• Iron(III)–oxazoline complex is applied in oxidation of sulfides.
• Urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as oxidant.
• Excellent yield and selectivity has been achieved.

A five-coordinated Fe(III) complex with the distorted trigonal bipyramidal configuration was synthesized by reactions of FeCl3⋅6H2O and 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazoline (Hphox) as a bidentate ON donor oxazoline ligand. Complex [Fe(phox)2Cl] was fully characterized, including by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. DFT calculations were accompanied with experimental results in order to obtain a deeper insight into the electronic structure and vibrational normal modes of complex. Oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides in one-step was conducted by this complex as catalyst using urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) in mixture of CH2Cl2/CH3OH (1:1) under air at room temperature. The results show that using this system in oxidation of sulfides, sulfoxides are obtained as the main products, together with variable amounts of sulfones (⩽13%), depending on the nature of the substrate.

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