Visible light-driven aerobic oxidation catalyzed by a diiron(IV) μ-oxo biscorrole complex

• We report a new photocatalyst for aerobic oxidations using molecular oxygen and sunlight.
• We examine the reaction conditions and explore the substrate scope.
• We report the evidence of detecting the key oxidizing intermediate.
• The observed oxidation photocatalysis is ascribed to a photo-disproportionation mechanism.

Under visible light irradiation, the diiron(IV) μ-oxo-bis(5,10,15-tripentafluorophenylcorrole) complex catalyzes the aerobic oxidations of hydrocarbons in sequences employing photo-disproportionation reactions. The active oxidant, highly reactive corrole-iron(V)-oxo species, can be detected in real time via laser flash photolysis methods.

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