Electrophilic activation of hydrogen peroxide: Selective oxidation reactions in perfluorinated alcohol solvents

The catalytic electrophilic activation of hydrogen peroxide with transition metal compounds toward reaction with nucleophiles is a matter of very sign ificant research and practical interest. We have now found that use of perf luorinated alcoholic solvents such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-5-propanol in the absence of catalysts allowed electrophilic activation of hydrogen perox ide toward epoxidation of alkenes and the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of keto nes.