A Reaction Intermediate Involved in Oxygenation of Catecholatoiron(III) Complexes with Molecular Oxygen — Relevance to Catechol Dioxygenases

Formation of an intermediate in the step of O2 binding to a catecholatoiron(III) complex was first clearly shown by construction of a labile coordination site on the ferric center. In addition, spectral changes indicated reversible interconversion between the catecholatoiron(III) complex and the intermediate.