The selective and efficient activation of C—H bonds is one of the major goals in chemistry. Complexes that mimic biological enzymes containing non-heme high-spin Fe^IV=O active-sites that can perform reactions such as C—H bond hydroxylation are of great interest for C—H activation. However, Fe^IV–oxo complexes in high-spin states are highly reactive and have short lifespans.

Richard O’Hair and co-workers, University of Melbourne, Australia, have studied the gas-phase synthesis and reaction of the high-spin complex [(bpg)Fe^IV=O]⁺ (bpg^– = N,N-bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)glycinato^–). The complex activates the αC—H bond of methanol and ethanol through H abstraction by the FeO group. This work could provide insights into the chemistry of Fe–oxo enzyme active sites and help direct the development of long-lived condensed-phase catalysts for C—H activation.

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• C—H Bond Activation of Methanol and Ethanol by a High-Spin FeIVO Biomimetic Complex
  W. A. Donald, C. J. McKenzie, R. A. J. O’Hair,
  Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011.
  DOI: 10.1002/anie.201102146