Baeyer-Villiger oxidation phenyl alkyl ketones

The Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of ketones with bis(trimethylsilyl)peroxide 74 is effected by use of catalytic amounts of la [86]. In particular, cyclic ketones are readily converted to the corresponding lactones in good yields although the attempted oxidation of alkyl phenyl ketones failed. This present reaction is also chemo- and regio-selectively useful. For instance, bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one 75 upon exposure to 74 and 10 mol % of la leads exclusively to prostaglandin intermediate 76 in 75 % yield (Sch. 50). 

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