Homogeneous Catalysis by Iron Complexes A Biphase Fenton Reagent

Homogeneous Catalysis by Iron Complexes A Biphase Fenton Reagent 

Over-oxidation problems are solved efficiently in biological systems by segregating catalysts and products into different environments. So, for instance, the active sites of several oxygenases are buried deeply into hydrophobic pockets where lipophilic substrates are readily oxidized, while the more hydrophilic reaction products, when released into the surrounding aqueous environment, do not have further access to the catalytic site [12]. 

Using FeS04 (1.67 x 10 M) in conjunction with equimolar amounts of methyl-pyrazine-5-carboxylic acid N-oxide and trifluoroacetic acid, in a water-acetonitrile-benzene (5 5 1 v/v/v) biphasic system, with benzene-H202-FeS04 = 620 60 1, a benzene conversion of 8.6% is achieved (35 °C 4h). Hydrogen peroxide conversion is almost complete (95%) and selectivities to phenol are 97% (based on benzene) and 88% (based on H2O2) [13]. These values are definitely higher than those described in the literature for the classical Fenton system [14], whereas iron complexes with pyridine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives are reported to be completely ineffective in the oxidation of benzene under the well-knovm Gif reaction conditions [15]. 

Regarding the possible mechanism, notably, toluene, ethylbenzene and terf-butylbenzene are less reactive than benzene, which is not consistent with the expected order for an electrophilic aromatic substitutions, such as that found with the classic Fenton reagent. There are also other differences with respect to the Fenton chemistry. In particular, under biphase conditions the reaction is definitely more selective although comparisons are difficult due to the huge amount of data, sometimes inconsistent, on the Fenton system (for which most of the data have been obtained with the iron used in stoichiometric amounts) it seems that selectivities dose to those observed under biphase conditions are only attained at a conversion around of 1%. Furthermore, in the biphase system, only a negligible amount ( 1%) of biphenyl was detected among secondary products, whereas in the classic Fenton oxidation this compound is formed by radical dimerization of hydroxycydohexadienyl radicals in typical yields ranging from 8 to 39%. 

Is a different mechanism operative under biphase conditions Although detailed mechanistic information is not currently available, the reaction is likely to start with the oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) (Equation 13.6)  

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