MnIIILx/t-BuOOH-induced activation of dioxygen for the oxygenation of cyclohexene

Abstract Several manganese (III) complexes (Mn III L x ) in combination with tert -butyl hydroperoxide ( t -BuOOH) activate dioxygen (O 2 ) to oxygenate cyclohexene ( c -C 6 H 10 ) to its ketone, alcohol, and epoxide. The product profiles depend on the ligand and solvent matrix. With picolinate (PA), bipyridine (bpy), or triphenylphosphine oxide (OPPh 3 ) as the ligand in py/HOAc (2:1 molar ratio) dominant product is the ketone [ c -C 6 H 8 (O)] whereas Schiff–base complexes produce c -C 6 H 8 (O), c -C 6 H 9 (OH) and the epoxide in almost equal yields. However, in MeCN c -C 6 H 8 (O) is the dominant product for all of the complexes.