Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of ketones catalysed by rhenium complexes bearing N- or oxo-ligands Original Research Article

Rhenium (I, III–V or VII) complexes bearing N-donor or oxo-ligands catalyse the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclic and linear ketones (e.g. 2-methylcyclohexanone, 2-methylcyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, cyclopentanone, cyclobutanone and 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone) into the corresponding lactones or esters, in the presence of aqueous H2O2 (30%). The effects of various reaction parameters are studied allowing to achieve yields up to 54%.