Biomimetic alkane hydroxylation by cobalt(III) porphyrin complex and m-chloroperbenzoic acid

The catalytic hydroxylation of alkanes by an electron-deficient cobalt( III) porphyrin complex and m-chloroperbenzoic acid yielded alcohols as major products with a high k(H)/k(D) value, > 99% retention of stereochemistry, and a high regioselectivity; a high-valent cobalt-oxo porphyrin complex was suggested as a reactive hydroxylating intermediate.