Oxidation chemistry has always been one of the most important playgrounds for the interpretation and mastering of reactivity.[1] In recent years we have been involved in the study of metal catalysts for oxidation transfer (OT) reactions,[2] with the aim of increasing our understanding on the role of intermolecular interactions in catalysis.[3] These studies have also pointed out the necessity to redefine the mechanism of nucleophilic and electrophilic OT.
For this reason the experimental results which have contributed to build up the current knowledge in OT have been re-evaluated with the support of theoretical calculations. The analysis, besides clarifying a particular example in OT that has been discussed for more than 50 years, investigates and reinterpret fundamental concepts in reactivity.
[1] “Catalytic Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide as Oxidant” G. Strukul 1992 Kluwer Academic.
[2] F. Romano, A. Linden, M. Mba, C. Zonta, G. Licini Adv. Synth. Cat. 2010, 352, 2937 and references cited therein. G. Licini, V. Conte, A. Coletti, M. Mba, C. Zonta Coord. Chem. Rev. 2011, 255, 2345.
[3] S. Lovat, M. Mba, H.C.L. Abbenhuis, D. Vogt, C. Zonta, G. Licini Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 4724. G. Santoni, M. Mba, M. Bonchio, W.A. Nugent, C. Zonta, G. Licini Chem. Eur. J. 2010, 16, 645.