Mononuclear Iron(III) Complexes as Functional Models of Catechol Oxidases and Catalases

Mononuclear amino triphenolate iron(III) complexes have been synthesized and characterized (UV/Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, ESI-MS, 1H NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction). These complexes act as biomimetic catalysts promoting the aerobic auto-oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to the corresponding o-benzoquinone at room temperature and displaying catalase activity for the hydrogen peroxide dismutation with remarkable activity (TON up to 4000).