Observations on the regioselectivity of some Baeyer–Villiger reactions

The Baeyer–Villiger reaction of a series of compounds related to an intermediate in our synthesis of (+)-dactylol showed a pattern of regioselectivity which could be varied to a small extent as a function of substitution on the precursor. A very unusual Baeyer–Villiger reaction of a methyl ketone resulted in a product from apparent insertion of an oxygen atom into between the carbonyl carbon and the methyl group of the acetyl functionality.