Oxidation of cyclohexane promoted by [Fe(III)(Salen)Cl] and [Mn(III)(Salen)Cl]

Salen complexes of iron(III) and manganese(III) were synthesized and employed as catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane, using hydrogen peroxide and tert–butylhydroperoxide. The reactions were carried out in acetonitrile at room temperature. The catalysts were characterized by infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopy, elemental analysis, conductivity and cyclic voltammetry. Conversions up to 10.2% (4.2% and 6.0% yields for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, respectively) were obtained for the system [Fe(III)(Salen)Cl]/tBuOOH.