Chiral iron(III)-salen-catalyzed oxidation of hydrocarbons

A group of chiral iron(III)-salen complexes (1–4) were employed as catalysts in the oxidation of a variety of alkenes at room temperature using pentafluoroiodosylbenzene as terminal oxidant. The reactions were carried out in both acetonitrile and dichloromethane. Iron(III)-salen-catalyzed oxygenation reactions were found to be dependent upon the reaction medium. At room temperature, oxygenation of cyclohexane has also been achieved up to 23% (13% and 10% yields for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, respectively) in acetonitrile medium.