Enolates of ketones, esters, and lactones are oxidized by MoOyPyHMPA (MoOPH) to give a- hydroxy derivatives. The reaction succeeds with carbonyl compounds having a-methylene or a-methine groups, but enolates from methyl ketones give variable results. The hydroxylation process does not afford products of oxidative CC cleavage which might be formed from an a-hydroperoxycarbonyl intermediate. If the initial intermediate from an ...