Photocatalytic Oxygenation of Selected Cycloalkenes in Aqueous Solutions Induced by Water‐Soluble Metal Porphyrin Complexes

Abstract

Abstract Water‐soluble manganese(III) as well as iron(III) porphyrinates are introduced as light‐sensitive precursor compounds for the photocatalytic activation of dioxygen in aqueous solutions. It is shown that in the presence of α‐pinene ( 4 ) and the further cycloalkenes 11–13 photocatalytic oxygenation reactions occur. The dependence of the selectivity of the oxygen transfer to the olefin on both the presence of water and the variation of the substrate‐to‐catalyst ratio is discussed. The catalyst may be conveniently separated from the substrates/products by using aqueous solvent systems.