Abstract:
The use of substrate probes for establishing the nature of intermediates and the mechanism of alkane oxidation by peroxides upon catalysis by binuclear iron complexes {[Fe2OL2 (H2O)2](ClO4)4, where L = bpy, 4,4′-Me2bpy or 5-NO2phen (bpy = bipyridine, phen = phenanthroline)}, the analysis of the dependence of test parameters on the nature of a substituent in a ligand and the effect of dioxygen all make it possible to diagnose a two-electron mechanism for the transfer of the oxygen atom from peroxide to the C–H bond of an alkane via metal complexes.