Single-electron oxidation and α-deprotonation
of tertiary
anilines using Fe(phen)3(PF6)3 afford
α-aminoalkyl radicals, which can be coupled with electrophilic
partners to afford various tetrahydroquinolines. Mechanistically,
the Fe(phen)
n
2+/3+ catalytic
cycle is maintained by O2 or a TBHP oxidant, and the presence
of the oxygen bound iron complex, Fe(III)–OO(H), was elucidated
by electron paramagnetic resonance and electrospray ionization mass
spectrometry. This redox-selective nonheme iron catalyst behaves similarly
to bioinspired heme iron catalysts.