Studies of the catalytic activity of Fe(III)(salen) complexes as epoxidation catalysts

Two new Fe(III)(salen) complexes, FeL¹ClO₄·2H₂O (1) and FeL²ClO₄ (2) [L¹ = N,N′-ethylenebis(3-formyl-5-methylsalicylaldimine) and L² = N,N′-cyclohexenebis(3-formyl-5-methylsalicylaldimine)], have been synthesized and characterized. The catalytic activity of the complexes for epoxidation of alkenes has been investigated in the presence of two terminal oxidants PhIO and NaOCl, with two solvents CH₃CN and CH₂Cl₂. As alkenes styrene and (E)-stilbene have been chosen for investigation; styrene is a better substrate than electron-rich (E)-stilbene. The study also suggests that unlike their Mn(III) counterparts, 1 and 2 are poor epoxidation catalysts; catalysis proceeds with formation of one intermediate, rather than forming more than one intermediate depending on the terminal oxidant used. Use of exogenous neutral donor ligands such as Py, PyNO and 1-MePy is effective to improve catalytic behavior.