Abstract: A hydroperoxide containing reaction mixture also containing a corresponding unreacted hydrocarbon is treated with an aqueous alcoholic solvent, e.g., aqueous methanolic solvent, to provide in a first step an extract containing a high percentage of hydroperoxide and an appreciable amount of original or unreacted hydrocarbon whereupon the extract is treated with water under recited conditions to obtain two desired phases, one of which is primarily hydrocarbon rejected from the extract by the addition of water and the other an aqueous methanolic solution of the desired hydroperoxide suitable for use in the acid-catalyzed decomposition for the production of carbonyl compounds and hydroxy compounds.