Reductive activation of O 2 by a bioinspired Fe complex for catalytic epoxidation reactions.

Aerobic epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by iron complexes without the use of a sacrificial coreductant is unknown. We report the reductive activation of O2 by a bioinspired [(bTAML)FeIII (H2 O)]- (1) complex to catalyze the epoxidation of alkenes with TONs of up to 80. Spectroscopic and kinetic evidence indicates the involvement of FeV (O) as the active oxidant during the reaction.