Metalloporphyrins: Ideal catalysts for olefin epoxidations

Abstract

Porphyrins are molecules that have found a wide range of applications such as dyes in solar cells, for medicinal purposes in photodynamic therapy, and as efficient catalysts in different organic transformations. In addition, the ability of porphyrins to coordinate with most metals of the periodic table provides a unique opportunity to tune the electronic properties of the macroheterocycle and thus their potential activity as catalysts. That is why, this paper reviews the recent literature and relevant advances in the oxidation of olefins catalyzed or mediated by metalloporphyrins, covering mainly those of iron and manganese because they are the most used derivatives for this process, even though other selected metal derivatives will be discussed alongside. Hence, relevant aspects of the porphyrin-mediated epoxidation reactions, such as the porphyrin activity, relevant oxidants, solvent systems, and mechanistic studies to better understand the role of porphyrins in the oxidation of olefins will be presented.