Efficient rearrangement of epoxides catalyzed by a mixed-valent iron trifluoroacetate [Fe3O(O2CCF3)6(H2O)3]

The mixed-valent oxo-centered triiron(III, III, II) trifluoroacetate complex [Fe2IIIFeIIO(O2CCF3)6(H2O)3] was prepared by reacting anhydrous iron(III) chloride with boiling trifluoroacetic acid under nitrogen. The non-hygroscopic and readily available mixed-valent triiron trifluoroacetate complex was found to be an efficient catalyst for the regioselective rearrangement of epoxides. A number of carbonyl compounds formed via the rearrangement of epoxides could be obtained by a simple filtration of the reaction mixture through a short plug of silica gel.