PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ESTERS OR LACTONES

摘要

A process for the preparation of esters or lactones, which comprises reacting a ketone represented by general formula (1) (wherein Ra and Rb are each independently an organic group having a carbon atom at the position where the carbonyl carbon atom adjacent thereto is bonded, or alternatively Ra and Rb together with the carbonyl carbon atom may form a ring) with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a compound containing a metallic element selected from among Group 3, 13, 14 and 15 metallic elements of the periodic table to thereby obtain a compound represented by general formula (2) (wherein Ra and Rb are each independently an organic group having a carbon atom at the position where the carbonyl carbon atom or oxygen atom adjacent thereto is bonded, or alternatively Ra and Rb together with the carbonyl carbon atom and the oxygen atom may form a ring). This process makes it possible to convert ketones to the corresponding esters or lactones in high yield by using hydrogen peroxide.