Stereospecific C-H Oxidation by Hydrogen Peroxide using Iron Catalyst

A group at the University of Girona in Spain has developed unusual bio-inspired multi-amino catalysts, which allow the oxidation of C-H to C-OH at tertiary centres stereospecifically (Gómez L et al Angew Chem Int Ed, 2009, 48, 5720-3).  The catalysts shown below are loosely based on heme complexes.  The mcpp catalyst has remarkable activity, and its structure shows that the iron is embedded in a hydrophobic pocket, caused by the pinene groups.