Iron(II) or -(III) nonheme complexes have emerged in the last
10 years as the most promising tools to oxidize nonactivated
C−H bonds.1 This chemical transformation remained elusive to
synthetic chemists until recently, because of the inertness of
aliphatic C−H bonds, coupled with the difficulty of a selective
transformation into the desired oxygenated product. However,
a number of high-valent nonheme iron complexes have been
recently demonstrated to act as good promoters or catalysts of
hydrocarbon oxidation. These complexes usually have simple
structures, high catalytic efficiencies, good selectivities and
require environmentally friendly and cheap oxidants such as
hydrogen peroxide.2,1d