Catalysis of mu-oxo-bis[porphyriniron(III)] for toluene oxidation with molecular oxygen

Toluene oxidation with molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant, and mu-oxo-bis[tetraphenylporphinatoiron(III)] as the catalyst, are reported. Under the reaction conditions of 438 K and 0.8 MPa, the molar total yields for the products benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol and the turnover number of the catalyst are 4.35% and 21,830 (based on the metal ion), respectively. Compared with the reaction catalyzed by the corresponding monometalloporphyrin (TPPFeCl)-Cl-111, the total yields of the oxidation products and the catalyst turnover number by the dimeric iron porphyrin were almost twice those by the former. A possible reaction mechanism of the toluene oxidation by mu-oxo-bis[tetraphenylporphinatoiron(III)] is proposed. Copyright (c) 2006 Society of Porphyrins & Phthalocyanines.