Catalytic and regiospecific extradiol cleavage of catechol by a biomimetic iron complex

Abstract

An iron(III)–catecholate complex of a facial tridentate ligand reacts with dioxygen in the presence of ammonium acetate–acetic acid buffer to cleave the aromatic C–C bond of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol regiospecifically resulting in the formation of an extradiol product with multiple turnovers.