Iron(III) 5,15-Diazaporphyrin Catalysts for the Direct Oxidation of C(sp3)-H Bonds.

5,15-Diazaporphyrins are porphyrin analogues with imine-type sp2-hybridized nitrogen atoms at the meso-positions. Even though these compounds are more electron-deficient than regular porphyrins, the use of iron diazaporphyrins as catalysts has not been reported. Herein, we disclose the synthesis, structure, and electronic properties of iron(III) 5,15-diazaporphyrins. We evaluate their structures and electronic natures by X-ray analysis and electrochemical analyses. We also demonstrate that chloroiron(III) 5,15-diazaporphyrins exhibit high catalytic activity in the direct oxidation of alkanes due to their intrinsic electron-deficient nature. On the basis of stoichiometric reactions of iron(III) diazaporphyrin with iodosylbenzene as an oxidant, it was possible to demonstrate the existence of an iodosylbenzene-iron diazaporphyrin adduct reaction intermediate that serves as a reservoir to generate oxo-iron species.