Detection of a transient Fe(O)(OH) species involved in olefin oxidation by a bio-inspired non-haem iron catalyst.

The Fe(TPA) (TPA = tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine) class of non-haem Fe catalysts is proposed to carry out selective hydrocarbon oxidations through the generation of high-valent iron species. Using ambient mass spectrometry, we obtain direct evidence for the formation of an Fe(O)(OH) species under catalytic conditions. In addition, O-labelling suggests that this Fe(O)(OH) species serves as the active oxidant in hydrocarbon oxidation catalysis.