Homogeneous (LFeIII) and heterogeneous (LFeIII SiO2) [L = 3-{2-[2-(3-hydroxy-1 3-diphenyl-allylideneamino)-ethylamino]-ethylimino}-1 3-diphenyl propen-1-ol] catalysts have been synthesized and evaluated catalytically In CH3CN both the homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts were efficient in alkene oxidations Cyclohexane oxidation provides total yield of 12 1% and 73% with an alcohol/ketone (A/K) ratio of 1 75 and 1 60 by the LFeIII and the LFeIII SiO2 catalysts respectively UV-vis kinetic data suggest formation of LFeIII-OOH species EPR data show that in the presence of CH3CN low-spin Fe-III (S = 1/2) centers are formed which are responsible for the catalytic activity The heterogeneous LFe SiO2 catalyst tested up to 5 re-uses shows a total yield loss similar to 4% per use providing the same distribution of oxidation products (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved