Binuclear Iron(III) Phthalocyanine(μ‐Oxodimer)‐Catalyzed Oxygenation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons with Iodosylbenzene Sulfate and Iodosylbenzene as the Oxidants

Two binuclear iron(III) phthalocyanine‐(μ‐oxodimer) complexes were tested in catalytic oxygenation reactions of several aromatic hydrocarbons using iodosylbenzene (PhIO)_n or oligomeric iodosylbenzene sulfate [(PhIO)₃SO₃]_n as the oxidants. Results of this study demonstrate that [(PhIO)₃SO₃]_n is the most reactive oxygenating reagent that can be used as a safe and convenient alternative to the thermally unstable and potentially explosive iodosylbenzene. The pyridine‐containing binuclear μ‐oxobis{iron(III)‐pyridino[3,4]‐9(10),16(17),23(24)‐tri‐tert‐butyltribenzoporphyrazine} is significantly more active as compared to the traditional μ‐oxobis[iron(III)‐2,9(10),16(17),23(24)‐tetra‐tert‐butylphthalocyanine].