From DNA to catalysis: a thymine-acetate ligated non-heme iron(III) catalyst for oxidative activation of aliphatic C-H bonds.

A non-heme, iron(III)/THA(thymine-1-acetate) catalyst together with H2O2 as an oxidant is efficient in oxidative C-H activation of alkanes. Although having a higher preference for tertiary C-H bonds, the catalyst also oxidizes aliphatic secondary C-H bonds into carbonyl compounds with good to excellent conversions. Based on the site selectivity of the catalyst and our mechanistic studies the reaction proceeds via an Fe-oxo species without long lived carbon centered radicals.