Reported in this paper is the first example of a biomimetic iron complex, ([FeII(TPA)(NCMe)2]2+ (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), that catalyses the cis-dihydroxylation of an aromatic double bond, mimicking the action of the non-haem iron enzymenaphthalene dioxygenase and shedding light on its possible mechanism of action.