Sodium hypochlorite complexes catalyzed oxidation

Metalloporphyrin complexes have been shown to catalyze epoxidation of alkenes (Fig. 12), and in this case metal oxo intermediates have been implicated [19-21]. In most cases strong oxidants are required however, it has recently been reported that a ruthenium trans-dioxo complex catalyses direct epoxidation of an alkene with molecular oxygen as the oxidant [22]. It is believed that porphyrinato metal complex-catalyzed epoxidations are related to alkene epoxidations catalyzed by cytochrome P-A50 or other active enzymatic systems. It has recently been shown that creating site-isolation by anchoring (tetra-phenylporphinato)manganese(lll) acetate to a rigid polymer support considerably enhances the rate of epoxidation of cyclohexene by sodium hypochlorite [23]. 

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