Catalytic and regiospecific extradiol cleavage of catechol by a biomimetic iron complex

An iron(III)-catecholate complex of a facial tridentate ligand reacts with dioxygen in the presence of ammonium acetate-acetic acid buffer to cleave the aromatic C-C bond of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol regiospecifically resulting in the formation of an extradiol product with multiple turnovers.