Hydroxylation of Benzene by Mimetic Enzyme of Iron Complexes
ZHOU Shi-lin ZOU Feng GU Ying-ying
University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, College of Science University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, College of Science University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, College of Science
Abstract: The mimetic enzymes of iron complexes were found to be very good catalysts for one-step benzene hydroxylation to phenol. [FeIII(EDTA)]- performed the most excellent catalytic activity among the mimetic enzyme catalysts tested in this work. Molecular oxygen and ascorbic acid were used as oxidant and reductant, respectively, in this reaction. The phenol yield and selectivity were obtained as high as 15.8% and 100%, respectively. The effects of some reaction conditions, such as oxygen pressure, reaction temperature and time, on the benzene hydroxylation were investigated. And the kinetics and mechanism of benzene hydroxylation were also studied. In the presence of reducing agent, molecular oxygen could be activated to hydroxyl radical over [FeIII(EDTA)]-.