Abstract Vanadium alkoxy compounds [(t-BuO) 4 V,(t-BuO) 3 VO] react with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (C 6 H 6, 20° C) to liberate oxygen, partly in the singlet form, and to form alkoxyl and peroxyl radicals via the intermediacy of vanadium peroxides and trioxide. These systems are capable of oxidizing hydrocarbon CH bonds. The process is radical in nature and involves formation of carbon-centered radicals and their reaction with oxygen ...
