Synthesis, X-ray structural and magnetic characterizations, and epoxidation activity of a new bis(μ-acetato)(μ-alkoxo)dinuclear iron(III) complex

The synthesis, crystal structure and variable temperature magnetic measurements of a new dinuclear Fe(III) complex, [Fe2(μ1,3-O2Cfn)(OH2)(MeOH)Cl2L] (1) [fn = furan, L = N,N′-bis(salicyaldehydene)-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol], is reported. From X-ray diffractometry, it is shown that each Fe(III) centre in 1 is in a distorted octahedral environment. A variable temperature magnetic study reveals strong antiferromagnetic behaviour of 1 with J = −22.2 ± 0.1 cm−1. Use of 1 as an alkene epoxidation catalyst towards (E)-stilbene and styrene with tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) and iodosylbenzene (PhIO) reveals that TBHP is the better oxidant in terms of the yield of the reaction.

Graphical abstractThe synthesis, crystal structure and variable temperature magnetic measurements of a new dinuclear Fe(III) complex, [Fe2(μ1,3-O2Cfn)(OH2)(MeOH)Cl2L] (1) [fn = furan, L = N,N′-bis(salicyaldehydene)-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol], is reported. From X-ray diffractometry, it was shown that each Fe(III) centre in 1 is in a distorted octahedral environment. A variable temperature magnetic study reveals strong antiferromagnetic behaviour of 1 with J = −22.2 ± 0.1 cm−1. Use of 1 as an alkene epoxidation catalyst towards (E)-stilbene and styrene with tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) and iodosylbenzene (PhIO) reveals that TBHP is the better oxidant in terms of the yield of the reaction.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide