Oxidation of cyclohexane promoted by [Fe(III)(Salen)Cl] and [Mn(III)(Salen)Cl]

Salen complexes of iron(III) and manganese(III) were synthesized and employed as catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane, using hydrogen peroxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide. The reactions were carried out in acetonitrile at room temperature. The catalysts were characterized by infrared and Mossbauer spectroscopy, elemental analysis, conductivity and cyclic voltammetry. Conversions up to 10.2% (4.2% and 6.0% yields for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, respectively) were obtained for the system [Fe(III)(Salen)Cl]/tBuOOH. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.