A Bridged Porphyrinato(thiolato)iron(III) Complex as a Model of the Active Center of the Cytochrome P‐450 Isozyme

Protection by shielding—the porphyrinophane complex 1, a functionally active model compound of the cytochrome P-450 isozyme, was prepared in an 18-step convergent synthesis. Porphyrin complex 1 catalyzes the epoxidation of cis-stilbene with iodosylbenzene. The thiolate ligand is shielded from oxidative attack by the chloro substituents and the phane chain, while on the other side of the molecule the naphthalene groups and the chloro substituents hinder the formation of μ-oxo and μ-peroxo complexes.