Catalytic and electrochemical properties of iron complexes

Abstract

In this research, iron complexes were synthesized and exploited as catalyst in the oxidation of cyclohexane using a mixture of pyridine-acetronitrile as a solvent system. Hydrogen peroxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide as an oxidant at room temperature and 70 ํC. Cyclohexanone was selectively obtained as a major product and cyclohexanol as a minor product. The relationship between oxidation reaction utilizing catalytic and electrochemical properties of iron complexes using cyclic voltammetry was studied. Cyclic voltammetry was performed using glassy carbon as a working electrode, silver wire as a reference electrode and platinum wire as an auxillary electrode. It was found that iron complexes exhibiting reversible and quasireversible reactions gaving better catalytic activity and provided better yield than iron complexes displayed irreversible reactions. In addition, the results obtained from kinetic study of cyclohexane oxidation and those from cyclicvoltammetry were in good agreement.