Direct photochemical activation of non-heme Fe(iv)[double bond, length as m-dash]O complexes.

Near-UV excitation of non-heme Fe[double bond, length as m-dash]O complexes results in light intensity dependent increase in reaction rates for the oxidation of C-H bonds even at low temperature (-30 °C). The enhancement of activity is ascribed to the ligand-to-[Fe[double bond, length as m-dash]O] charge transfer character of the near-UV bands to generate a highly reactive [(L) Fe-O*] species. The enhancement is not observed with visible/NIR excitation of the d-d absorption bands.