The kinetics of cumene oxidation in the presence of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba 2-ethylhexanoates is studied experimentally. It is established that the Mg 2-ethylhexanoate exhibits the highest catalytic performance. It is shown by the PBEPBE-GD3/def2TZVP method that the intermediate adducts of cumene, cumene hydroperoxide ( gauche- and trans- conformers), and dimethyl phenyl carbinol with Mg 2-ethylhexanoate are thermodynamically possible. The data on the structure of intermediate adducts and electron density distribution were obtained by conducting PBEPBE-GD3/def2TZVP quantum chemical calculations. The totality of structural data, energy parameters of the adducts, nature of the electron density distribution, and the strength of the O-O bond show that the intermediate adduct of cumene hydroperoxide ( trans- conformer) with Mg 2-ethylhexanoate most rapidly decomposes into free radicals. A mechanism of catalytic activity of Mg 2-ethylhexanoate in cumene oxidation is proposed based on the results of quantum chemical simulation.