The Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement with metal triflates: new developments toward mechanism

Based on MS analysis, the mechanism of the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones with hydrogen peroxide using metal triflates (Ga(OTf)3 and Er(OTf)3) as catalysts was proposed. In the case of cyclohexanone as a substrate, dimeric, trimeric and tetrameric peroxide structures were detected.