The kinetics, catalysis and inhibition of the Baeyer—Villiger reaction in the processes of liquid-phase oxidation of organic compounds

Abstract

Literary data on kinetics, catalysis and inhibition of the oxidation reaction of carbonyl compounds with peroxy acids according to the Baeyer—Villiger reaction under aerobic liquidphase oxidation conditions have been considered and discussed. The main reaction channel involves a reversible formation of α-hydroxyperoxy ester and its rearrangement to an ester or a lactone. In the case of homolytic decomposition of α-hydroxyperoxy ester no esters are formed. At all steps the formation and transformation of α-hydroxyperoxy ester are catalyzed by carboxylic acids. The possibility of formation of the second intermediate, presumably dioxirane, is shown. Catalysts of the oxidation processes such as variable-valency metal salts influence the kinetics at all steps in the Baeyer—Villiger reaction. Inhibition of ester formation in the presence of cobalt and manganese salts is associated with catalysis of homolytic decomposition of peroxy acid and α-hydroxyperoxy ester.