The autoxidation of organic compounds containing acidic carbon-hydrogen bonds is a well- known reacti0n. l For example, Gersmann and Bickel report that high yields of a- hydroperoxy esters are formed when oxygen is bubbled through cold solutions of esters in the presence of a base. 2 However, with methyl phenylacetate, the expected hydroperoxy ester was reported as a minor product, apparently undergoing further reaction to yield as ...