A novel platform for modeling oxidative catalysis in non-heme iron oxygenases with unprecedented efficiency

A study was conducted to demonstrate a number of non-heme iron complexes, based on the methylpyridine derivatized triazacyclononane (TACN) backbone. It was found that these iron complexes show significant efficiency in the stereospecific oxidation of alkanes with H2O2, bypassing the latest oxidations catalyzed by TPA and BPMEN complexes. It was also demonstrated that the type of substitution on the N atoms of the triazamacrocyle and on the pyridine ring are key tools, to control the selectivity of the iron complexes in catalytic alkane and alkene oxidation reactions. It was also shown that this structural control of the catalytic selectivity in bioinspired oxidation reactions makes the iron complexes an efficient platform, to mimic iron dependent oxygenase reactivity.