A Putative Monooxygenase Mimic Which Functions via Well-Disguised Free Radical Chemistry¹

The hydroxylation of cycloalkanes at 25 C by the syringe pump addition of tert-alkyl hydroperoxides (10 and 1 equiv based on catalyst) to deoxygenated acetonitrile containing cycloalkanes (0.64 M) and 0.61 mM of the catalyst, [FeIII2O(TPA)2(H2O)2]4+, is demonstrated to be a reaction which involves freely diffusing cycloalkyl radicals, i.e., free alkyl radicals.