Bio-inspired arene cis-dihydroxylation by a non-haem iron catalyst modeling the action of naphthalene dioxygenase.

ABSTRACT

Reported in this paper is the first example of a biomimetic iron complex, ([Fe(II)(TPA)(NCMe)(2)](2+) (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), that catalyses the cis-dihydroxylation of an aromatic double bond, mimicking the action of the non-haem iron enzyme naphthalene dioxygenase and shedding light on its possible mechanism of action.