Epoxidation of alkenes and oxidation of alcohols with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by a manganese(V) nitrido complex

The manganese(V) nitrido complex (PPh4)(2)[Mn(N)(CN)(4)] is an active catalyst for alkene epoxidation and alcohol oxidation using H2O2 as an oxidant. The catalytic oxidation is greatly enhanced by the addition of just one equivalent of acetic acid. The oxidation of ethene by this system has been studied computationally by the DFT method.