Selective oxidative cleavage of 1,2-dimethoxyarenes to muconic diesters catalysed by an iron β-sulfonated-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin

Abstract

The water-soluble iron(III)[TF₅PS₄P=meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-β-tetrasulfonatoporphyrin] catalyses the selective oxidation, by magnesium monoperoxyphthalate (or H₂O₂), of 1,2-dimethoxyarenes bearing an electron-withdrawing substituent (CN, CHO, COR) to muconic dimethyl esters which are formed in 30–40% yield and are the only reaction products obtained after CH₂Cl₂ extraction.