Creation of a chain-like cationic iron species in montmorillonite as a highly active heterogeneous catalyst for alkane oxygenations using hydrogen peroxide

A chain-like Fe3+ species containing an Fe-O-Fe unit has been prepared within the interlayer space of a montmorillonite, which showed a very high catalytic activity (turnover frequency 386 h-1 and turnover number 23,200) for the oxidation of cyclohexane with H2O2, affording cyclohexyl hydroperoxide as a major product.