Substituent effects on the catalytic activity of bipyrrolidine-based iron complexes

The catalytic activity and the selectivity of the new bipyrrolidine-based Fe(II) complexes 2 center dot Fe(OTf)(2) and 3 center dot Fe(OTf)(2) in the oxidation of a series of alkyl and alkenyl hydrocarbons as well as of an aromatic sulfide with H2O2 were tested and compared with the catalytic efficiency of White's parent complex 1 center dot Fe(OTf)(2) in order to evaluate the sensitivity of the reaction to electronic effects.