Oxidative Rearrangement of Tertiary Propargylic Alcohols.

An oxidative rearrangement of tertiary alcohols mediated by m-CPBA is described that generates tetrasubstituted alkenes with a carboxylic acid substituent. The mechanism of the reaction is proposed to proceed through epoxidation of the alkyne to form an oxirene that undergoes a 1,2-aryl shift.