Intermediate-spin iron(iv)-oxido species with record reactivity

The nonheme iron(IV)-oxido complex trans-N3-[(L1)FeIVO(Cl)]+, where L1 is a derivative of the tetradentate bispidine 2,4-di(pyridine-2-yl)-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-1-one, has an S = 1 electronic ground state and is the most reactive nonheme iron model system known so far, of a similar order of reactivity as nonheme iron enzymes (C-H abstraction of cyclohexane, -90 °C (propionitrile), t1/2 = 3.5 s). The reaction with cyclohexane selectively...