Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones with aqueous hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by transition metal oxides

•MoO3 and WO3 are promising catalysts for the oxidation of cyclic ketones.•The interaction of MoO3/H2O2 and WO3/H2O2 is investigated.•The Baeyer–Villiger reaction mechanism proceeding on MoO3 and WO3 is put forward.

The Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones to the corresponding lactones using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant over transition metal oxides was investigated. MoO3 and WO3 were found to exhibit higher catalytic activity than TiO2, Fe2O3, Co3O4, ZnO and ZrO2. The high catalytic activity was attributed to the interaction of MoO3/H2O2 and WO3/H2O2. Additionally, the reaction mechanism on MoO3 and WO3 was proposed.

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