An unusual pathway of the oxidation of diethyl ether by bismuth(v) derivatives

Di(tert-butylperoxy)triphenylbismuth and the triphenylbismuth-tert-butyl hydroperoxide system transform diethyl ether into ethoxyacetic aldehyde. The latter undergoes further conversions under these reaction conditions to give the corresponding hydroxyperoxide, ethoxyacetic acid, and bismuth(III) acylates.