Tandem Oxidation/Rearrangement of β-Ketoesters to Tartronic Esters with Molecular Oxygen Catalyzed by Calcium Iodide under Visible Light Irradiation with Fluorescent Lamp

It was found that beta-ketoesters were directly transformed to the corresponding alpha-hydroxymalonic esters, tartronic esters, with molecular oxygen catalyzed by calcium iodide under visible light irradiation from fluorescent lamp. This reaction includes tandem oxidation/rearrangement and has received much attention from the viewpoint of reduction of energy consumption, labor, and solvents.