Use of metal complex compounds as oxidation catalysts

A method of catalyzing an oxidation reaction, which comprises contacting an oxidizable substrate with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of at least one metal complex compound of formula (1)

• [LnMemXp]zYq (1),
• wherein
• Me is manganese, titanium, iron, cobalt, nickel or copper,
• X is a coordinating or bridging radical,
• n and m are each independently of the other an integer having a value of from 1 to 8,
• p is an integer having a value of from 0 to 32,
• z is the charge of the metal complex,
• Y is a counter-ion,
• q=z/(charge of Y), and
• L is a ligand of formula (2)
• wherein
• Q is N or CR10,
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are each independently of the others hydrogen;
• unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
• cyano;
• halogen;
• nitro;
• —COOR11 or —SO3R11 wherein
• R11 is in each case hydrogen, a cation or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
• —SR12, —SO2R12 or —OR12 wherein
• R12 is in each case hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted aryl;
• —NR13R14;
• —(C1-C6alkylene)-NR13R14;
• —N⊕R13R14R15;
• —(C1-C6alkylene)-N⊕R13R14R15;
• —N(R12)—(C1-C6alkylene)-NR13R14;
• —N[(C1-C6alkylene)-NR13R14]2;
• —N(R12)—(C1-C6alkylene)-N⊕R13R14R15;
• —N[(C1-C6alkylene)-N⊕R13R14R15]2;
• —N(R12)—N—R13R14 or —N(R12)—N⊕R13R14R15, wherein
• R12 is as defined above and
• R13, R14 and R15 are each independently of the other(s) hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted C1-C18alkyl or unsubstituted or substituted aryl, or
• R13 and R14, together with the nitrogen atom linking them, form an unsubstituted or substituted 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring which may contain further hetero atoms.