Amavadine as a catalyst for the peroxidative halogenation, hydroxylation and oxygenation of alkanes and benzene

Synthetic amavadine models, [V(HIDPA)(2)](2-) and [V(HIDA)(2)](2-) [where H IDPA and HIDA stand for the basic forms of 2,2'-(hydroxyimino)dipropionic a nd 2,2'-(hydroxyimino)diacetic acid, respectively], exhibit haloperoxidase- or peroxidase-type activities, and act as catalysts for the selective pero xidative monohalogenation, hydroxylation or oxo-functionalization of alkane s or aromatic compounds such as benzene and mesitylene at room temperature.