Synthesis and structure of a μ-oxo diiron(III) complex with an N-pyridylmethyl-N,N-bis(4-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)amine ligand and its catalytic property for hydrocarbon oxidation

A mu-oxo diiron(III) complex [{Fe(pbba)Cl}(2)(mu-O)]Cl-2 (1, pbba = N-pyridylmethyl-N,N-bis(4-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)amine) bearing multi-imidazolyl motifs was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography to closely mimic the structural features of methane monooxygenase. As shown by its X-ray crystal structure, complex 1 is a centrosymmetric dimer with an Fe-O-Fe angle of 180 degrees, and pseudo-octahedral around each iron(III) center. The catalytic ability of title compound in the oxidation of alkane and alkene is investigated by employing tert-butylhydroperoxide and m-chloroperbenzoic acid as oxidants under mild conditions. The catalytic oxidation results showed that radical intermediate dominates the oxidation process. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.