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Apparently you must use sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide because using m-CPBA gives an undesired product

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Why doesn't m-CPBA work and what does it do instead? Why does sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide work?

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When using MCPBA, the undesired by-product is probably formed due to Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of the ketone to the corresponding ester (here: lactone).

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    $\begingroup$ and why doesn't this happen with the peroxide? $\endgroup$ – RobChem Apr 11 '16 at 10:38
  • $\begingroup$ Iirc the Dakin oxidation of a ketone generally only works with benzaldehydes or acetophenones with EDGs o- or p- to the carbonyl $\endgroup$ – orthocresol♦ Apr 11 '16 at 11:47

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