Metalloporphyrin-Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Cyclohexane by Alkyl Hydroperoxides: Pronounced Efficiency of Iron-Porphyrins

The catalytic hydroxylation of non‐activated alkanes by hydroperoxides under mild conditions has been studied on the example of cyclohexane and cumyl hydroperoxide. Of the metalloporphyrin catalysts tested, Fe(TPP)Cl was strongly effective, Mn(TPP)Cl was weakly effective, Co(TPP) and Os(TPP)(CO)(py) suffered alteration during the catalysis, while Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg, Ti, and V derivatives proved to be inactive.—In Nature alkane oxidations with O2 are catalyzed by (iron‐containing) cytochrome P450.