C–H Photooxygenation of Alkyl Benzenes Catalyzed by Riboflavin Tetraacetate and a Non-Heme Iron Catalyst
Author M. Sc. Bernd Mühldorf, Prof. Dr. Robert Wolf First published: 10 November 2015 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201507170 M. Sc. B. Mühldorf, Prof. Dr. R. Wolf University of Regensburg Institute of Inorganic Chemistry 93040 Regensburg (Germany) Abstract A mixture of the photocatalyst riboflavin tetraacetate (RFT) and the biomimetic non-heme iron complex [Fe(TPA)(MeCN) 2 ](ClO 4 ) 2 (TPA=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) efficiently catalyzes the visible-light-driven aerobic oxidation of alkyl benzenes to ketones and carboxylic acids. An RFT-catalyzed photocycle and the independent action of the iron complex as a catalyst for H 2 O 2 disproportionation and alkyl benzene oxygenation ensure high yields and selectivities.