A methane monooxygenase-like dinuclear iron(III) complex and its catalytic ability for asymmetric epoxidation of styrene

A methane monooxygenase-like dinuclear complex of iron (III) with a chiral heptadentate ligand has been synthesed and tested for catalytic ability for asymmetric epoxidation of styrene with iodosylbenzene. The results show that the complex exhibits man! qualitative features, such as electronic spectrum, catalytic behavior, and asymmetric induction similar to those of methane monooxygenase and catalyzes styrene epoxidation to R-(+)-styrene oxide in 9.3% yield and 72.9% optical yield.