Thermal and photochemical oxidation of 2-acetylcyclopentanone with atmospheric oxygen

The major products of thermal (acetone, CaCl₂ excess, reflux) and photochemical (acetone or CCl₄, room temperature) oxidation of 2-acetylcyclopentanone with atmospheric oxygen are 2-acetyl-2-hydroxycyclopentanone, 2-acetyl-2-hydroxymethylcyclopentanone, 1,1′-diacetyl-1,1′-bicyclopentyl-2,2′-dione, 2-acetoxycyclopentanone, 5,6-dioxoheptanoic acid, glutaric acid, and glutaric anhydride. The formation of 2-acetyl-2-hydroxycyclopentanone is the first example of the direct α-hydroxylation of β-dicarbonyl compound under the conditions described.