Baeyer–villiger Oxidation

The Baeyer–Villiger oxidation is a classic organic transformation that converts a carbonyl group—most often a ketone—into an ester or a lactone by inserting a single oxygen atom next to the carbonyl carbon. The reaction begins with the addition of a peroxide to the carbonyl, forming a tetrahedral intermediate that then rearranges so that one of the groups attached to the carbonyl migrates onto the newly added oxygen, yielding the expanded functional group.

This rearrangement is prized by synthetic chemists because it offers a reliable way to lengthen carbon skeletons and introduce ester or lactone linkages with control over regio‑selectivity. Those features make the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation indispensable in the construction of complex natural products, pharmaceuticals, and polymer precursors, where precise placement of an oxygen atom can dictate biological activity or material properties.

Beyond the laboratory, variants of the reaction are found in nature as enzyme‑catalyzed processes that perform the same rearrangement under mild conditions. Industrially, the method is employed to produce flavors, fragrances, and specialty chemicals on scale, while academic research continues to expand its scope through new peroxide reagents and catalytic systems.