Revealing the Structure and Reactivity of the Active Species in the FeCl2–TBHP System: Case Study on Alkene Oxidation

A mechanism involving a quintet ferryl [FeIV═O] species has been disclosed for the oxidation of alkene under the FeCl2–TBHP system. Both theoretical and experimental results suggested that the quintet ferryl species [FeIV═O] was produced by the reaction of FeCl2 with TBHP. A Mulliken atomic spin density distribution on [FeIV═O] showed that the O site has strong radical character and could easily react with alkene to form a carbon radical intermediate. This radical could be further oxidized by TBHP to lead to the C═C bond cleavage of alkene.