Method for oxidizing alkanes using novel porphyrins synthesized from dipyrromethanes and aldehydes

--- 2~3gl801 BACRGROUND OF T~E lNV~NllON AND PRIOR ART Electron deficient metalloporphyrins 1 (e.g. R=C6Fs, X=F,Cl,Br,M=Fe) have been shown to be efficient catalysts for the highly selective air oxidation of light alkanes to alcohols (Ellis and Lyons, Cat.

Lett., 3, 389, 1989; Lyons and Ellis, Cat.

Let 8, 45, 1991; U. S.

Patents 4,900,871; 4,970,348), as well as for efficient decomposition of alkyl hydroperoxides (Lyons and Ellis, J.

Catalysis, 1~1, 311, 1993;

Lyons and Ellis, U.S.

Patent 5,120,886).

~ hey are prepared by co-condensatio~ of pyrrole with the ap~ropriate aldehyde (Badger, Jones and Leslett, "Porphyrins VII. The Synthesis of Porphyrins By the Rothemund Reaction", Aust.J.Chem., 17, 1028-35, 1964; Lindsey and Wagner, "Investigation of the Synthesis of Ortho-Substituted Tetraphenylporphyrins", J.

Ora.

Chem., 54,828, 1989;

U.S. ~Patents 4,970,348; 5,120,882) followed by metal insertion (Adler, Longo, Kampas and ~im, "On the preparation of metalloporphyrins', -~ ` 2139180 J.

Inorq.Nucl.Chem., 32, 2443, 1970) and ~-halogenation; (U.S.

Patents 4,8.92,9~1; 4,970,348) Ellis and Lyons U.S Patent ~,970,348 discloses chromium complexes of meso-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)beta-haloporphyrins, made by reacting pyrrole with trifluoroacetaldehyde, and halogenating the resulting porphyrin; also, azide and hydroxide complexes of the porphyrins.

Ellis and Lyons U.S.

Patent 5,120,882 discloses iron and other metal complexes of meso-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-beta-nitroporphyrins, obtained by nitration of mesotetrakis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin.

X I X X~X ~N N~ R ~ ~M~ ~ R X~X X I X R Dipyrromethanes (2; see J.D.Paine in "The Porphyrins" D.

Dolphin, Ed., Academic Press, New York, Vol. I, pa~es 101 and 163-234, 1978) are the most commonly used precursors to a wide variety of symmetrical and unsymmetrical porphyrins.

The use of dipy-LLG~ethanes for the synthesis of porphyrins carrying electron-withdrawing groups in all peripheral positions has been limited by the inaccessibility of 5,5'-unsubstituted dipyL~omcthanes in which the groups (2; R ,R ,R ,R ) that become the beta S86002C7.dr; 3 - ~ 213918~ positions, and the group (2;R~) that becomes the meso position~, of the resulting porphyrins, either electron-withdrawing or hydrogen for appropriate post-cyclization functionalization.

R3 R5 I H R4 R2~ R~ H H R1 R o 2 Acid-catalyzed co-condensation of 5,5-unsubstituted dipyLLv..cthanes 3 with aldehydes 4 has been shown to give porphyrins (5;

M=2H) in high yield.

However, since the precursor dipyrromethanes 3 used in these disclosures are beta alkyl meso-unsubstituted systems (R~=R2=R~=Rs=alkyl;R3=H) and the aldehydes are aromatic aldehydes (R6=aryl), the resulting porphyrins 5 are 5,15-diaryl-10,20 unsubstituted porphyrins with alkyl substitution at the beta positions (Rl=R2=R~=Rs=alkyl) (Ogoshi, Sugimoto, Nishiguchi, Watanabe, Matsuda and Yoshida,"Syntheses of 5-Aryl and 5,15-diaryl-2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18 Octaethylporphines" Chemistry Lett., p.29, 1978; Gunter and Mander, "Synthesis and Atropisomer Separation of Porphyrins Containing Functionalization at the 5,15-Meso Positions: Application to the Synthesis of Binuclear Ligand Systems", J.

Ora Chem, 46, 4792, 1981;

Young and Chang, "Synthesis and Characterization of Blocked and LigandAppended Hemes Derived from Atropisomeric meso Diphenylporphyrins", J.

Am.

Chem.Soc." 107, 898, 1985; Osuka, Nagata, Kobayashi and Maruy~ma, "An Improved Synthesis of 5,15-Diaryloctaalkylporphyrins~, J.

Heterocvclic Chem., 27, 1657, 1990).

58600ZC7.dr; 4 --- 213918~ The fully un6ubstituted di~yLLol~lethane 3 (Rl=R2=R =R =R =H) has also been con~enRed with substituted aromatic aldehydes 4 to gi~e betaunsubstituted 5,15-diarylporphyrins which are also unsubstituted at the other two meso positions 10 and 20 (5 Rl=R7=R =R4=Rs=H; R6=aryl); Manka and Lawrence, "High Yield Synthesis of 5,15-Diarylporphyrins", Tetrahedron Lett., 30, 6989, 1989).

R2 R4 o R' ~ ~ R;

R5CHo OHCR6 4 H R s ~ R ' R3 H R4 R2 -R2 R3 R R1 ~ R5 R ~ ~M~ ~R R5--~ R R4 R3 R2 S86002C7.drj 5 - - ` 21391~ M.

Homma et al, Tetrahedron Lett. 24, 4343 (1983) disclose Cu, Zn and Co complexes of porphyrins containing trifluoromethyl groups in (beta) positions, such as 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-2,4,6,8tetraethylporphyrin.

N.

Ono et al, Bull.Chem.So.Jpn. 62, 3368 (1989) also disclose zinc complexes of porphyrins containing trifluoromethyl groups in ~ positions, for example 1,3,5,7-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-2,4,6,8tetramethylporphyrin.

Hoffman, Robert and Meunier, "Preparation and catalytic activities of the manganese and iron derivatives of Br~TMP and C1l2TMP, two robust porphyrin ligand~ obtained by halogenation of tetramesitylporphyrin', Bull.Soc.Chim.Fr., 129, 85, 1992, disclose ionic halogenation of tetramesitylporphyrin by N-bromosuccinimide or N-chlorosuccinimide to give as main product, meso-tetramesityl ~-octabromoporphyrin and mesotetrakis(3-chloro-2,4,6-trimethylphenyl-~-octachloroporphyrin, respectively, and that manganese and iron derivatives of these porphyrins are efficient catalysts for olefin epoxidation and alkane hydroxylation.

Lyons and Ellis, "Selective Low Temperature Hydroxylation of Butane By Molecular Oxygen Catalyzed By an Iron Perhaloporphyrin Complex", Catalysi~ Lett., 8, 45, 1991 disclose synthesis of iron tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)~-octabromoporphyrinato complexes, having unprecedented catalytic activity for the reaction of molecular oxygen with isobutane to give tert-butyl alcohol.

S86002C7.dr; 6 -- 2I3918~ .

Bhyrappa and Krishnan, "Octabromotetraphenylporphyrin and Its Metal Derivatives: Electronic Structure and Electrochemical Properties", Inorq.Chem., 30, 239, 1991 disclose ~vO, Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pd(II), Ag(II) and Pt(II) derivatives of octabromotetraphenylporphyrin, and their electronic structure and electrochemical properties.

Onaka, Shinoda, Izumi and Nolen, "Porphyrin Synthesis in Clay Nanospaces", Chemistry Lett., 117, 1993 disclose synthesis of mesotetraalkylporphyrins from aliphatic aldehydes and pyrroles by using the clay, montmorillonite.

Gong and Dolphin, ~Nitrooctaethylporphyrins: synthesis, optical and redox properties", Can.,J.Chem, vol. 63, 1985, pages 401-5, disclose reaction of zinc octaethylporphyrin with N204 in dichloromethane to give, in a step-wise reaction, the zinc complexes of mono-, di-, triand tetra-nitrooctaethylporphyrins, and demetallation of the products under acidic conditions to give the corresponding free base.

The mesonitro groups exert steric and electronic effects on the porphyrin macrocycle. N-protonation of the nitrated species causes a distortion of the ring and gives an optical spectrum similar to that of protonated meso-aryl substituted porphyrins.

The nitro groups make the oxidation of the porphyrin ring more difficult and facilitate the ring reductions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE lNv~LION The present invention provides for the use of novel catalytically active metalloporphyrins for the partial oxidation of alkanes, in particular light ~lk~neg~ and for hydroperoxide decomposition.

The S86002C7.drj 7 2139~8~ preferred catalysts carry perhalocarbyl groups at two opposite meso positions (e.g.5,15) and which may also have other electron-withdrawing groups (perhalocarbyl, nitro) at the other two meso (10,20) positions.

The novel catalysts of the invention are highly active for both alkane hydroxylation and hydroperoxide decomposition.

The invention enables the synthesis of a series of catalytically active, highly electron deficient 5,15-(bis~halocarbyl metalloporphyrins with the 10,20 meso positions unsubstituted or carrying electron-withdrawing groups.

Since the syntheses provided by the invention may use mesosubstituted-beta-unsubstituted dipyLr~- -thanes (e.g. 3;

Rl=R2=R4=Rs=H;R3=halocarbyl), porphyrins 5 produced by co-condensation with appropriate aldehydes will in one embodiment of the invention carry electron-withdrawing groups in all four meso positions, while the beta positions will still be available for substitution by other electronwithdrawing groups.

By using R6=H (HCHO or synthetic equivalent), 10,20-diunsubstituted porphyrins (5; R~=R2=R4=Rs=R6=H; R3=halocarbyl) are synthesized, which can be substituted by electron-withdrawing groups (e.g. halogen, nitro).

Any unsubstituted beta position on the porphyrin macrocycle can then be halogenated or nitrated according to known methods.

The invention comprises methods of partially oxidizing alkanes to alcohols using as catalysts the new compositions of matter accordLng to the invention and methods of decomposing hydroperoxides to form alcohols - using as catalysts new compositions of matter according to the invention.

S86002C7.dr; 8 2139180 Said new compositions of matter comprise catalytically active iron, manganese, cobalt or ruthenium complexes of porphyrins having hydrogen or haloaryl at two opposite meso positions (5; R3)and hydrogen or haloalkyl at the other two opposite meso po6itions (5; R6) having hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano or halocarbyl at beta po6itions; and azide derivatives, oxo-bridged dimer derivatives of such complexes.

Also disclosed is a method for 6ynthesizing porphyrins by condensing a 5,5'-unsubstituted dipy Ll- -thane (3; R3 is H or halocarbyl) with formaldehyde or its equivalent or with a halocarbyl aldehyde (4; R6 is H or halocarbyl).

The product obtained where 3:R and 4:R6 are both hydrogen is a meso-unsubstituted porphyrinogen, which is subsequently converted to a meso-unsubstituted porphyrin.

Where 3:R3 and 4:R6 are hydrogen and halocarbyl respectively, and when 3:R3 and 4:R6 are halocarbyl and hydrogen respectively, the product is a mesohalocarbylporphyrinogen having halocarbyl groups at two opposite meso positions (e.g.5,15) and hydrogen at the other two meso (10,20) positions.

Where 3:R3 and 4:R6 are both halocarbyl, the product is a meso-tetrakis(halocarbyl)porphyrinogen.

Where the product, after conversion of the porphyrinogen is porphine or meso-bishydrocarbylporphyrin, the meso hydrogens may be subsequently substituted with electron-withdrawing groups such as halogen, nitro or cyano substituents.

2S "Halocarbyl' as the term is used herein includes halohydrocarbyl and perhalocarbyl. "Perhalocarbyl" as used herein refers to complete substitution of halogen for hydrogen, or as near complete substitution as reasonably possible to attain under the circumstances.

586002C7dr; 9 - 213918~ OXIDATION AND HYDROPEROXIDE DECOMPOSITION h~ODS The invention provides a novel method for partially oxidizing Al~n~S to alcohols by contacting the alkane feedstock with oxygen and a transition metal complex of a porphyrin produced by the method of the invention.

The feedstocks and operating conditions used in such operations are generally those described in U.S.

Patents Nos.

4,803,187;4,859,798; 4,895,680; 4,895,682; 4,900,871; 4,970,348 and 5,091,354, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The invention also provide~ a novel method for decomposing hydroperoxides to alcohols by contacting the hydroperoxide feedstock with oxygen and such transition metal complex.

The feedstocks and process conditions used in such operation according to the invention are generally as set forth in Lyons and Ellis U.S.

Patent 5,120,886, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

NEW COMPOSITIONS OF MATTER The invention also comprises using embodiments of new compositions of matter as catalysts in which said compositions comprise the structural formula 5 above, where R6 is hy~drogen or haloaryl, R3 is hydrogen or haloalkyl, and Rt, R2, R4 and Rs are independently hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano or halocarbyl, and M comprises iron, manganese, cobalt or ruthenium.

S86002C7.dr; 10 213918~ The invention also comprises new compositions of matter having the formula S where R and R are halocarbyl, R , R , R and R are halogen and M comprises iron, manganese, cobalt or ruthenium.

These are metal complexe~3 of perhalogenated meso tetraalkylporphyrins The new compositions of matter according to the invention include:

(1) the Fe, Mn, Co and Ru complexes of meso-bis(haloaryl)bis(haloalkyl)porphyrins (5; M is M' or M'X, where M'=Fe, Mn, Co or Ru and X=halogen or hydroxyl, Rl, R2, R4 and Rs are independently hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano or halocarbyl, R6 is haloaryl and R3 is haloalkyl);

(2) the Fe, Mn, Co and Ru complexes of meso-tetrahalocarbyl-betaperhaloporphyrins 5; M is as in (1) above, R3 and R6 are halocarbyl and R , R2, R~ and Rs are halogen);

(3) azide derivatives of substituted porphyrin metal complexes (MPN3, where MP is a metal complex of a substituted porphyrin as disclosed in (1));

(4) oxo-bridged dimers of substituted porphyrin metal complexes as herein disclosed (MPOPM, where MP and PM are metal complexes of substituted porphyrins as disclosed in (1)).

Examples of the above categories include the porphyrins synthesized in Examples 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 16 and 17 below, namely:

S86002C7.dr; 11 21391~0 5,1S-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10,20-bis-(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin (Example 2), the iron(III)chloride complex (Example 3) of the porphyrin of Example 2, the oxo-bridged dimer (Example 4) of the complex of Example 3, the azide derivative (Example 5) of the complex of Example 3, di(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin (Example 8), bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10,20-(trifluoromethyl)-~octabromoporphyrinatoiron(III) (Example 16) 5, 10,15,20-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) chloride (Example 17) Following the co-condensation of dipyLLol~lethane with aldehyde according to the invention, transition metal such as iron may be inserted into the porphyrins to prepare the catalytic species in their hemin, azide or oxo-bridged dimer forms.

Where feasible, the hydroxide forms are also within the scope of the invention.

Further modification of the porphyrins by substitution at the beta and meso positions with other electron-withdrawing groups (halogens, nitro, etc.) may be done before or after insertion of iron or other transition metal.

The products have highly efficient catalytic behavior in both alkane hydroxylations and hydroperoxide decompositions.

586002C7.dr; 12 213918~ METHODS OF ~Yh ~SIZING PoRr~lN~S The catalyst useful in the invention may be preferably produced by novel methods for synthesizing porphyrins in which a dip~L. -thane having formula 3 where R3 is hydrogen or halocarbyl, preferably perhalocarbyl, for example trifluoromethyl, heptafluoropropyl, and Rl, R2, R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, halogen, nitro, cyano or halocarbyl, is reacted with an aldehyde, R6CHO, where R6 is hydrogen or halocarbyl, preferably perhalocarbyl, for example pentafluorophenyl or trifluoromethyl, under co-condensation conditions to produce an int~rrl~iAte porphyrinogen, and said intermediate porphyrinogen is converted to a meso-unsubstituted porphyrin (5; R3=R =H) or to a porphyrin having halocarbyl groups in all four meso positions (5;

R3=halocarbyl, R6=halocarbyl).

Where the beta positions of the porphyrin are unsubstituted in the above synthesis, that is, where Rl, R2 R4 and R5 are hydrogen, the beta hydrogen atoms are available for substitution by electron-withdrawing atoms or groups such as halogen, nitro or cyano.

In another embodiment, in which the porphyrin produced has two halocarbyl groups in meso positions, and the other two meso positions (10,20) are unsubstituted, prepared by using in the condensation a halocarbyldi~y~ thane (3; R3=halocarbyl, for example trifluoromethyl, heptafluoLopLo~yl)) and an aldehyde 4 in which R6=H (HCHO or synthetic equivalent), porphyrins (5; Rl=R2=R4=R5=R6=H; R3=halocarbyl) are obtained, which can be subsequently substituted in the two free meso positions by electron-withdrawing atoms and groups (5; R is halogen, N02, CN .

586002C7.drj 13 - 21~918~ In the method according to this ~mho~ L of the invention, the - dipyrr~ -thane and aldehyde are contacted with an acid catalyst, for example trifluoroacetic acid, hydrobromic acid or an insoluble acid such as clay, for example montmorillonite K-10, under co-condensation conditions.

Conditions are used in the co-condensation which are within the knowledge of the person skilled in the art of co-condensation of dipyLL~ ~thanes and aldehydes.

Iron, manganese, cobalt and ruthenium, and particularly iron complexes of the porphyrins produced by the method of the invention are highly active catalysts for the hydroxylation of alkanes.

Chromium complexes of the porphyrins produced by the method of this invention are disclosed in Ellis et al patent 4,970,348 above as catalysts for the oxidation of butane to methylethylketone; secondary butyl alcohol is disclosed as a minor product of the oxidation.

For partial oxidation of ~lkAnes to alcohols, the iron, cobalt, manganese and ruthenium complexes according to the invention are superior to the chromium complexes of said patent.

EXAMPLES S~nthesis of Catal~st Compositions ExAMæLE 1 synthesis of bis(pyrrol-2-yl)trifluoromethylmethane from pyrrole and trifluoroacetaldehyde methyl hemiacetal Pyrrole (150 mmol) and trifluoroacetaldehyde methyl hemiacetal (75mmol) in tetrahydrofuran are heated at reflux with catalytic amounts of hydrochloric acid for 2 hours under an inert atmosphere. GC analysis 58600ZC7.dr; 14 213918~ , of the reaction mixture indicated the presence of the desired dipy~c~ -thane in greater than 80% yield. Neutralization of the acid followed by work up and chromatography gave the pure bis(pyrrol-2-yl)trifluoromethylmethane 3 (R =CF3)). MS:m/z=214. This preparation has been disclosed in Wijesekera U.S. patent application Serial No.

08/143,261 filed on October 26, 1993.

EXAMPLE 2 Synthesis of 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl-10-20-bis(trifluoromethyl)-porphyrin from bis(pyrro1-2-yl)trifluoromethylmenthane and pentafluorobenzaldehyde Bis(pyrrol-2-yl)-trifluoromethylmethane (3; R =CF3;

R =R =R =R =H; 1.07g; Smmol) and pentafluorobenzaldehyde (4;R~=perfluorophenyl; 982mg; Smmol) and hydrobromic acid (32% in acetic acid; 1 mL) were stirred in degassed chloroform (lL) for 20h at room temperature in the dark under a closed argon atmosphere.

The intermediate porphyrinogen was treated with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) and stirred for 3 hours exposed to light and air.

The crude reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness, the residue redissolved in chloroform and filtered through neutral alumina which retains excess oxidant and most of the byproducts.

The pure product, 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10,20-bis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin, or (C6Fs)2(CF3)2PH2 where P designates the porphyrinato ligand (5a;R =R =R =R =H, R =CF3, R =C6Fs, M=2H), was obtained by evaporation of the filtrate to dryness and recrystallization of the residue from dichloromethane/methanol. MS:m/z=778; uv: I max 408, 504, 538, 584, 638. S86002C7. dr j 15 21~918~ EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of the iron complex of 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10,20bis-(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin.

The porphyrin 5a prepared in Example 2 (200mg), sodium acetate trihydrate (600mg) and glacial acetic acid (9OmL) were degassed and heated with ferrous chloride (600mg) for 20min at 100C.

The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature and exposed to air overnight.

Hydrochloric acid (3M;90ML) was added to the reaction mixture and the precipitated solid was filtered and washed with water.

The solid was redissolved in chloroform and chromatographed on neutral alumina.

The iron complex was eluted using 2% CH30H-CH2Cl2.

Treatment with hydrochloric acid (6M) produced the desired product, 5,15bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10,20-bis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrinato iron(III)chloride, or (C6Fs)2(CF3)2PFeCl (5b; R =R =R =R =H, R =CF3, R =C6Fs, M=FeCl. MS: m/z=867 (M+),832 (M+-Cl); W: I max, 350/408 (split Soret), 508(wk), 622(wk) nm.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of oxo-bridged dimer of iron complex of 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl-10,20-bis-(trifluoromethvl)porphyrin The iron complex 5b prepared in Example 3 (100mg) dissolved in - toluene (50mL) was stirred with aqueous sodium hydroxide (2M;50ml) for 30min.

The organic layer was separated, washed with water (2x40mL), concentrated and pa~sed through neutral alumina (Brockman activity V).

The eluate was evaporated to dryness to give the oxo-bridged dimer [(C6Fs)2(CF3)2PFe]20 (5c; Rl=R2=R~=Rs=H, R3=CF3, R6=C6Fs, M=Fe-0-FeP) FABMS:m/z=1680 (M+), 832(M+-OFeP); W : I max, 332(wk), 388(Soret), 422(sh),562,602 nm.

S86002C7. dr j 16 213918~ E~T.~ 5 Preparation of azide derivative of iron Complex of 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl-10,20-bis-(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin The iron complex 5b prepared in Example 3 (43mg) dissolved in dry acetone (6mL) was stirred with sodium azide (45mg) for 45h.

The solid wa~ filtered and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness.

The residue was redissolved in dry dichloromethane, filtered and the solvent La - ved to isolate the azide derivative (C6Fs)2(CF3)2PFeN3 (5d; R =R2=R =R =H, R3=CF3, R6=C6F5, M=FeN3) exhibiting a characteristic azide stretching frequency in the IR spectrum at 2042 cm-1.

E~AMPLE 6 Synthesis of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin from bis-(pyrrol-2-yl)trifluoromethylmethane and trifluoroacetaldehyde methyl hemiacetal Equimolar quantities of bis(pyrrol-2-yl)-trifluoromethylmethane (3; R =R =R~=Rs=H, R3=CF3) and trifluoroacetaldehyde methyl hemiacetal (4;

R6=CF3 as the hemiacetal) were heated at reflux for 8h in degassed chloroform in the presence of catalytic amounts of trifluoroacetic acid.

The solution was allowed to cool to room temperature and treated, dropwise with a solution of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) in benzene over l5min.

The reaction mixture was reheated at reflux for 3h, cooled to room temperature and the porphyrin (CF3)4PH2 (59; Rl=R2=R4=R =H, R =R =CF3, M=2H) isolated by passing through neutral alumina. MS:m/z=582 (M+). W: I max, 404 (Soret), 510, 544, 594, 648 nm.

58600ZC7.dr; 17 ~ ` - ~ 21391~0 EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of the iron complex of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin The porphyrin 5e prepared in Example 6 ~30mg), sodium acetate trihydrate (lOOmg) and acetic acid (12mL) were degassed and heated with ferrous chloride (150mg) for 20min at 120C.

The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature and exposed to air overnight.

Hydrochloric acid (3M) was added to the reaction mixture and the precipitated solid filtered and washed with 2M HCl.

The solid was redissolved in chloroform, the solution extracted once with 6N HCl, the organic layer separated and evaporated to dryness.

The product, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) chloride, or (CF3)~PFeCl (5f; R =*=R =R =H, R =R =CF3, M=FeCl) was isolated by redissolving in dichloromethane and crystallizing from n-hexane. W:

348/404 (split Soret), 506(wk), 640(wk) nm. MS: m/z, 671/673 (M+), 636 (M-Cl).

EXAMPLE 8 Synthesis of 5,15-bis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrin from bis(pyrrol-2yl)trifluoromethylmethane and dimethoxymethane Equimolar quantities of bis(pyrrol-2-yl)-trifluoromethylmethane (3; R =R =R =R =H, R =CF3) and dimethoxymethane (4; R =H as the dimethyl acetal), were refluxed for 3h in degassed chloroform with catalytic amounts of hydrobromic acid.

The cooled reaction mixture was stirred with a solution of DDQ in benzene overnight, passed through neutral alumLna (Brockman activity V) to isolate the porphyrin (CF3)2PH2 (5g; R =R =R =R =R =H, R =CF3, M=2H- MS:m/z=446(M+), W : A max,396 (Soret), 498,534,576,626nm.

5~002C7.dr; 18 - 21~918Q Methods of Use of the Catalyst Composition:

EXAMPLE 9 PartLal oxidation of isobutane with oxo-bridged dimer of the iron complex of 5,15-his(pentafluorophenyl-10,20-bis(trifluoromethyl) porphyrin as the catalyst The cataly~t [(C6Fs)2(cF3)2pFe]2o prepared in Example 4 (5c;0.0065mmol) was dissolved in benzene (25mL) and isobutane (7g) added.

Oxygen (5 bars) was pressed on the stirred solution at 60C. for six hours.

After this time, the solution was cooled, brought to atmospheric pressure and analyzed by standardized glpc.

It was determined that 530 moles of isobutane had reacted per gram-atom of iron used in the catalyst.

The selectivity to tert-butyl alcohol was over 85% with acetone and di-tert-butylperoxide being minor products.

E~AMPLE 10 Repeat of Example 9 with higher reaction temperature A catalytic reaction was run under the conditions of Example 9 except that the reaction temperature was 80C.

Under these conditions, 1270 moles of isobutane reacted per gram-atom of iron used and tertbutyl alcohol was the predl ;n~nt product.

EXAMPLE 11 Partial oxidation of isobutane with azide derivative of iron complex of 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl-10,20-bis-(triflucromethyl)porphyrin A catalytic reaction was run under the conditions of Example 10 except that the catalyst used was (C6Fs)2(CF3)2PFeN3 (5d;0.013mmole) S86002C7. dr j 19 `~ 21~9i80 prepared in Example S.

Over 1330 moles of isobutane reacted per gramatom of iron used and tert-butyl alcohol was the pred~in~nt product.

EXAMPLE 12 S Comparison Fxample uFing unhalogenated metalloporphyrin complexes To illustrate the high activity of the above complexes relative to unhalogenated metalloporphyrin complexes, experiments were conducted under the conditions of Example 11 except that the catalyst was mesotetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III) chloride [Fe(TPP)Cll or octaethylporphyrinatoiron(III) chloride [Fe(OEP)Cl] or octaethylporphyrinatoiron(III) azide [Fe(OEP)N3], and no reaction occurred in any of the three cases.

EXAMPLE 13 Decomposition of hydroperoxide using the catalyst of Example 3 The complex (C6Fs) 2 ( CF3)2PFeCl prepared in Example 3 (Sb, 0.6mg) was directly added to a stirring solution of tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP, 13.8g) in tert-butyl alcohol (TsA~ 18.lg) at 80C.

Oxygen was rapidly evolved and the TBHP converted largely to TBA.

Oxygen evolution was monitored manometrically with time.

After a four hour reaction period, the reaction mixture was analyzed by standardized glpc.

The TBHP conversion level was 97%.

Product selectivities were: TsA (90%), acetone (5.1%) and di-tert-butylperoxide DTBP (2.4%).

S~002C7.dr; 20 2i39180 EXAMPLE 14 Decomposition of hydroperoxide using catalyst of Example 4 A reaction was run under condition~ of Example 13 except that the catalyst used wa~ [(C6F5)2(CF3)2PFe]20 (5c) prepared in Example 4.

After a 3.5 hour reaction period, the TBHP conversion level had reached 96% and the product selectivities were: TBA (88%), acetone (6.2%) and DTBP (2.6%).

E2AMPLE 15 Comparison decomposition of hydroperoxide using unhalogenated complex as catalyst To illustrate that the complexes of Examples 13 and 14 have exceptional activity, a reaction was run under conditions of Example 13, except that the catalyst was the unhalogenated complex, Fe(OEP)Cl.

Very slow oxygen evolution was observed and after a 3.7 hour reaction period, the TDHP conversion level had reached only 11%.

Furthermore, the catalyst had become completely inactive.

EXAMPLE 16 Synthesis of 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10,20-bis(trifluoromethyl)-~ octabromoporphyrinatoiron(III) chloride 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10,20-bis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) chloride 5b, prepared in Example 3 (llOmg) is placed in dry carbon tetrachloride (40mL) and pyridine (2mL) and heated to reflux. A solution of bromine (0.5mL) in carbon tetrachloride (2mL) iB added and continued heating at reflux for 10h.

The solution is S86002C7. dr j 21 213918~ . ~ allowed to cool to room temperature and the supernatant solution decanted.

The residue is dissolved in 6M hydrochloric acid, washed with chloroform.

The combined organic layers are extracted with 6~ hydrochloric acid followed by 2M aqueous sodium hydroxide, washed with water and evaporated to dryness.

The residue is dissolved in chloroform, the solution filtered through a pad of aluminal (neutral) and evaporated to dryness to give the title compound.

E~AMPLE 17 Synthesis of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-~octabromoporphyrinatoiron(III) chloride 5,1-0,15,20-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) chloride 5f as prepared in Example 7, is ~-brominated as described in Example 16 to give the analogous ~-brominated derivative.

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