Catalysis Letters, Vol.124, No.3-4, 330-333, 2008
Clean Baeyer-Villiger oxidation using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant catalyzed by aluminium trichloride in ethanol
Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of ketones was carried out using AlCl3 as catalyst, H2O2 (30%) as oxidant in innocuity and environmentally friendly ethanol conditions. Cyclic ketones and acyclic ketones were transformed into the corresponding lactones or esters in 5-24 h at 40-70 C with very high conversion and selectivity. A possible reaction mechanism was also given.