Clay-anchored non-heme iron-salen complex catalyzed cleavage of CC bond in aqueous medium

Clay-anchored iron[N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato)] complex, synthesized by direct exchange, oxidizes various olefins and chalcones in aqueous acetonitrile using hydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidant. Aldehyde and its derivatives are obtained as oxidation products by the cleavage of CC double bond. In comparison with the catalysis by iron-salen complex in solution, the clay catalyzed pathway not only increases the rate of reaction significantly, but also provides selective oxidation toward the aldehyde. Some chalcones also give very good yield in water, compared to the solution and clay catalyzed pathways.