Oxidation of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols with hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by a "helmet" phthalocyaninato iron complex in the absence of added organic solvent.

The oxidation of four benzylic alcohols employing hydrogen peroxide and TBHP as oxidants, catalyzed by an iron(III) complex bearing a 14,28-[1,3-diiminoisoindolinato]phthalocyaninato (diiPc) ligand has been studied and found to proceed with good selectivity, high turnover numbers, and high turnover frequencies in the absence of organic solvents other than the substrates themselves.