New Insight into Reaction of Iron(III)-peroxide Adduct with Alkanes: an Alternative Model for Cytochrome P-450 and Methane Monooxygenase

A new mechanism for alkane functionalization by iron(III)-peroxide adducts was pro­ posed, and the importance of electrophilic nature of the metal-peroxide adduct with t] 1coordination mode was emphasized. This idea suggests that formation of high-valent ironoxo species occurs most likely when the metal-peroxide intermediate is activated through electronic interaction with both the peripheral organic group and substrate; the latter two act as an electron donor to the peroxide adduct.