Abstract:The new half-sandwich scorpionate complexes [hydridotris(1-pyrazolyl)methane]vanadium trichloride, ([VCl 3 {HC(pz) were synthesized, characterized and shown to act, as well as the related (tripyrazolylmethane)copper dichloride, [CuCl 2 {HC(pz) 3 }] 6, as selective catalysts (or catalyst precursors) for the peroxidative oxidation (with hydrogen peroxide) of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, under mild conditions (at room temperature and using an aqueous solution of H 2 O 2 ). The iron complexes are the most active ones (reaching TON values up to ca. 690), the effects of a variety of factors are reported and the reaction is shown to proceed via both C-and O-centred radical mechanisms, conceivably involving a metal-based oxidant.