Binuclear iron(III) phthalocyanine(μ-oxodimer)-catalyzed oxygenation of aromatic hydrocarbons with iodosylbenzene sulfate and iodosylbenzene as the oxidants

Two binuclear iron(III) phthalocyanine-(μ-oxodimer) complexes were tested in catalytic oxygenation reactions of several aromatic hydrocarbons using iodosylbenzene (PhIO)_n or oligomeric iodosylbenzene sulfate [(PhIO)₃SO₃]_n as the oxidants. Results of this study demonstrate that [(PhIO)₃SO₃]_n is the most reactive oxygenating reagent that can be used as a safe and convenient alternative to the thermally unstable and potentially explosive iodosylbenzene. The pyridine-containing binuclear μ-oxobis-{iron(III)-pyridino[3,4]-9(10), 16(17),23(24)-tri-tertbutyltribenzoporphyrazine} is significantly more active as compared to the traditional μ-oxobis[iron-(III)-2,9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetra- tert-butylphthalocyanine].