A Non-Heme Iron(III) Complex with Porphyrin-like Properties That Catalyzes Asymmetric Epoxidation

In this report, we describe an iron(III) complex containing a carbazole-based tridentate ligand that catalyzes highly enantioselective asymmetric epoxidation of (E)-alkenes at room temperature. The non-heme iron(III) complex has a five-coordinated trigonal-bipyramidal structure, and its two-electron oxidized state has the similar electronic structure as that of iron porphyrins.