Catalytic oxygenative degradation of 4-chlorocatechol by a nonheme iron(III) complex-Mechanism and prevention of catechol ester formation

The oxygenative degradation of 4-chlorocatechol catalyzed by iron(III)-tris(pyridin-2-yl)amine complex in MeCN gives chlorocatechol esters of the oxygenated products. The efficient catalytic oxygenative degradation of the chlorocatechol is achieved by changing the solvent from MeCN to MeOH, which affords methyl esters of the oxygenated products via efficient methanolysis of muconic anhydride.