An "End-On" Chromium(III)-Superoxo Complex: Crystallographic and Spectroscopic Characterization and Reactivity in C-H Bond Activation of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Metal-superoxo intermediates have been invoked as reactive species in C−H bond cleavage of substrates by oxygenase enzymes. In this work, we have shown the first structurally characterized end-on chromium(III)-superoxo complex, [CrIII(14-TMC)(O2)(Cl)]+, which was synthesized by reacting [CrII(14-TMC)(Cl)]+ with O2. The Cr(III)-superoxo intermediate has shown reactivities in C−H cleavage of alkylaromatics via a H-atom abstraction mechanism.