MECHANISTIC INVESTIGATIONS OF IRON SULFUR-CATALYZED BOND SCISSION IN AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS - A CATALYTIC HYDROGEN-ATOM TRANSFER STEP INVOLVING A LATE TRANSITION-STATE/

The mechanism of carbon-carbon bond scission by 'iron sulfide' catalys ts is explored through the use of substituted diphenylmethane model co mpounds. The reaction kinetics are shown to be first order in model co mpound with the methylene-arene carbon-carbon bond adjacent to the mos t substituted arene being selectively cleaved. These results are consi stent with the catalyst acting as a hydrogen atom transfer agent.