Treatment of alkenes with t-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of Cr(CO) 6 or Cr(CO) x (CH 3 CN) y species results in oxidation of allylic methylene groups to give α,β-unsaturated ketones, in the presence of certain alcohols, and in moderate to excellent yields. ... All new compounds were obtained as racemic mixtures and were fully characterized by the usual spectroscopic methods, and were judged to be pure by HPLC, GLC, TLC and/or combustion analysis.
