Selective and Efficient Catalytic Oxygenation of Alkyl Aromatics Employing H2O2 Catalyzed by Simple Porphyrin Iron(II) under Mild Conditions

The excessive utilization of additives in chemical reactions is a troublesome problem industrial processes, due to their adverse effects on equipment and processes. To acquire oxidative functionalization alkyl aromatics under additive-free mild conditions, large library metalloporphyrins was applied the oxygenation as catalysts with H2O2 an oxidant. On basis systematic investigation catalytic performance metalloporphyrins, it discovered that, surprisingly, only porphyrin irons(II) possessed ability catalyze conditions satisfying substrate scope. Especially 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl) iron(II) (T(2,6-diCl)PPFe) catalyst, conversion reached up 27%, selectivity 85% aromatic ketone representative ethylbenzene oxidant without any additive used. study apparent kinetics mechanisms optimal system also conducted detail. Based thorough exploration characterization, source superior T(2,6-diCl)PPFe acquired mainly its planar structure, low positive charge metal center, better solubility mixture, which favored approach reactants interaction between center H2O2. beneficial verified through cyclic voltammetry measurements UV–vis absorption spectra. In comparison previous studies, this work, efficient, selective, means developed for could act example valuable reference processes aromatics, great advance realization conditions.