While the most catalysts applying for mimicking of oxygenation function of cytochrome P450 rely on the metalloporphyrins, we present here novel approach based on Mn+ metallocomplexes of novel ligands: arylmethyl substituted bis-beta-aminoketones. The efficacy of catalyst for 1-hexene oxygenation was tested as function of Mn+, ligand type and reaction conditions. Our results revealed that the best performance is for Co(II) metallocomplexes of ligand N,N'-ethylenebis[4-amino-1,5-di-(2-naphthyl)]pent-3-en-2-one are the most efficient for conversion of 1-hexene to oxygenation products. Analysis of product distribution was performed with GC-MS analysis, the mild conditions of analysis allowed to detect primary products of oxygenation reaction. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.