Direct photochemical activation of non-heme Fe(iv)
O complexes†
Abstract
Near-UV excitation of non-heme FeIVO complexes results in light intensity dependent increase in reaction rates for the oxidation of C–H bonds even at low temperature (−30 °C). The enhancement of activity is ascribed to the ligand-to-[FeIV
O] charge transfer character of the near-UV bands to generate a highly reactive [(L+) FeIII–O*] species. The enhancement is not observed with visible/NIR excitation of the d–d absorption bands.