The iron(II) complexes [Fe(bpy)](OTf) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; OTf = CFSO) () and [Fe(bpydeg)](OTf) (bpydeg = , -bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl) [2,2'-bipyridine]-4,4'-dicarboxamide) (), the latter being a newly synthesized ligand, were employed as catalyst precursors for the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol with hydrogen peroxide in water, using either microwave or conventional heating. With the same oxidant and medium the oxidation of glycerol was also explored in the presence of and , as well as of two similar iron(II) complexes bearing tridentate ligands, ., [Fe(terpy)](OTf) (terpy = 2, 6-di(2-pyridyl)pyridine () and [Fe(bpa)](OTf) (bpa = bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)amine) (): in most reactions the major product formed was formic acid, although with careful tuning of the experimental conditions significant amounts of dihydroxyacetone were obtained.
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