Vanadium peroxo complexes oxygen transfer mechanism

The mechanism of oxygen transfer from the peroxide (29) to the substrate still remains a matter of controversy. Current opinions favor the formation of a high-valent FeO (or Fe =0 or Fe —0-) (30) active species, which acts as a homolytic hydrogen abstractor from the substrate. An alternative mechanism considers the Fe -peroxide complex as the actual hydroxylating reagent, by analogy with the reactivity of vanadium(V)-peroxo and -alkylperoxo complexes and that of chromium(Vl)-peroxo complexes (see below). ... 

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