New mechanistic insights into intramolecular aromatic ligand hydroxylation and benzyl alcohol oxidation initiated by the well-defined (μ-peroxo)diiron(iii) complex.

A (μ-peroxo)diiron(iii) complex [Fe2 (LPh4 )(O2 )(Ph3 CCO2 )]2+ (1-O2 ) with a dinucleating ligand (LPh4 ), generated from the reaction of a carboxylate bridged diiron(ii) complex [Fe2 (LPh4 )(Ph3 CCO2 )]2+ (1) with dioxygen in CH2 Cl2 , provides a diiron(iv)-oxo species as an active oxidant which is involved in either aromatic ligand hydroxylation or benzyl alcohol oxidation.