Efficient epoxidation of olefins by H2O2 catalyzed by iron "helmet" phthalocyanines.
High yields of epoxides were obtained in the oxidation of a large range of olefins using 1.2-2 equiv. of H2O2 in the presence of iron helmet phthalocyanines. The involvement of high-valent iron oxo species was evidenced using cryospray mass spectrometry.