Selective degradation of estrogens by a robust iron(III) complex bearing a cross-bridged cyclam ligand via iron(V)-oxo species

•Fe-cyclam/H2O2 system shows excellent selectivity to estrogens.•High-valent iron(V)-oxo species is detected as the intermediate.•The estrogenic activity of 17β-estradiol is greatly reduced by 95% after treatment.•The reusability of Fe-cyclam is better that the reported iron complexes.