Synergistic effect of lipophilic carboxylic acids and heterocyclic axial ligands in alkene epoxidation by hydrogen peroxide catalysed by manganese(III) tetra-aryl porphyrins

The rate of alkene epoxidation promoted by 30% H2O2 and catalysed by MnIII tetra (2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin is strongly enhanced by the addition of lipophilic carboxylic acids and lipophilic imidazole or pyridine axial ligands, in 1–8 : 1 and 1 : 1 molar ratios with respect to the porphyrin.