Direct photochemical activation of non-heme Fe(IV)=O complexes

Near-UV excitation of non-heme Fe-IV=O complexes results in light intensity dependent increase in reaction rates for the oxidation of C-H bonds even at low temperature (-30 degrees C). The enhancement of activity is ascribed to the ligand-to-[Fe-IV=O] charge transfer character of the near-UV bands to generate a highly reactive [(L+) Fe-III-O*] species. The enhancement is not observed with visible/NIR excitation of the d-d absorption bands.