Phase Transfer Catalyzed Oxidation of Ketones with Borax - H2O2

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00807154

Borax forms peroxy species when dissolved in 30percent hydrogen peroxide which can be transferred into the organic phase when biphase mixtures are agitated.The addition of a catalytic amount of BTEAC promotes the transfer.This biphase system was used for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of several ketones insoluble in water.Effects of changing various parameters, e.g. temperature, time, amount of H2O2 etc. were investigated.At higher temperature (ca. 80 deg C), 100percent conversion could be achieved in 2-4 h.The results show that under appropriate conditions this reaction is of synthetic value for the oxidation of acid-sensitive ketones using inexpensive and easily available reagents. - Keywords: Baeyer-Villiger oxidation; Phase transfer catalysis; Borax-H2O2 system