The hydrolysis of oximes to the corresponding carbonyl compounds has been of considerable interest in recent years for at least two reasons. 1 Firstly, oxime derivatives are often used to purify, characterise and protect aldehydes and ketones, 2 so the regeneration of the parent carbonyl compounds is important. Secondly, oximes may be accessed by routes not involving the carbonyl function such as the Barton reaction and the reduction of nitro compounds, 3 and so ...