Peroxovanadium-catalyzed oxidative esterification of aldehydes.

The peroxovanadium species generated from V(2)O(5) and hydrogen peroxide, which is liberated from peroxy salts such as sodium perborate (SPB) or sodium percarbonate (SPC), transform aldehydes directly into esters in an alcoholic medium. Monoesters of diols have been achieved directly in one pot from aldehydes. High catalytic turnover number combined with inexpensive, easily available reagents and innocuous side products from the reaction make it a suitable alternative for the synthesis of esters from aldehydes.