Intramolecular aromatic hydroxylation mediated by a dinuclear iron complex: an oxo-Feiv Feiv active intermediate is suggested

Abstract

In the presence of oxygen atom donors [XO, e.g., m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA), o-tert-butylsulfone iodosyl benzene (ArIO)] the benzyl group of the ligand in a mixed-valent Fe^IIFe^III complex is almost quantitatively ortho-hydroxylated to a phenolate terminally bound to one iron in the derived Fe^IIIFe^III complex. All available experimental evidence concurs to suggest that this reaction involves an oxo-Fe^IVFe^IV intermediate.