Hydrocarbon oxidation catalyzed by manganese and iron complexes with the hexadentate ligand N,N'-di(ethylacetate)-N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine

Mn(II) and Fe(II) complexes with the hexadentate debpn ligand are found to catalyze the oxidations of alkene and alkane substrates. The catalytic activities of the debpn complexes are inferior to those of analogous compounds with tetradentate ligands. The additional donor atoms stabilize the metal ion's +2 oxidation state.