Rapid Iron(III)-Fluoride Mediated Hydrogen Atom Transfer

We anticipate high-valent metal fluoride species will be highly effective hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) oxidants because of the magnitude of the H–F bond (in the product) that drives HAT oxidation. We prepared a dimeric Fe(III)(F)–F–Fe(III)(F) complex (1) by reacting Fe(II)(NCCH₃)₂(TPA) where X = F/OTf. 1 and 2 were characterised using NMR, EPR, UV-vis, and FT-IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. 2 was a remarkably reactive Fe III reagent for oxidative C–H activation, demonstrating reaction rates for hydrocarbon HAT comparable to the most reactive Fe III and Fe IV oxidants.