Hydroperoxides, decomposition

Along with homolytic decomposition, hydroperoxides are decomposed in an acetamide solution by the chain mechanism under the action of formed free radicals [33,35]. 

The most damaging feature of oxidation is Reaction (5), in which the yield of active radicals is increased to greater than one-for-one by hydroperoxide decomposition. Hydroperoxides may, however, be decomposed by other than free-radical routes. Two species that assist are organophosphites and thio compounds, as in Reactions (10) and (11) ... 

The rt,/3-unsaturated linear carbonyl compound 39 is obtained by the decomposition of the cyclic hydroperoxide 38 with PdCl2,[35]. The a, 0-epoxy ketone 40 is isomerized to the /3-diketone 41 with Pd(0) catalyst[36]. The 1,4-epiperoxide 42 is converted into the /3-hydroxy ketone 43 and other products[37]. 

The type of initiator utilized for a solution polymerization depends on several factors, including the solubiUty of the initiator, the rate of decomposition of the initiator, and the intended use of the polymeric product. The amount of initiator used may vary from a few hundredths to several percent of the monomer weight. As the amount of initiator is decreased, the molecular weight of the polymer is increased as a result of initiating fewer polymer chains per unit weight of monomer, and thus the initiator concentration is often used to control molecular weight. Organic peroxides, hydroperoxides, and azo compounds are the initiators of choice for the preparations of most acryUc solution polymers and copolymers. 

New radicals are introduced by thermolysis of the hydroperoxide by chain-branching decomposition (eq. 4). Radicals are removed from the system by chain-termination reaction(s) (eq. 5). Under steady-state conditions, the production of new radicals is in balance with the rate of radical removal by termination reactions and equation 8 appHes for the scheme of equations 1—5 where r. = rate of new radical introduction (eq. 4). 

New radicals come exclusively from the decomposition of the intermediate hydroperoxide (eq. 4), provided no other radical sources, eg, peroxidic impurities, are present. Hydroperoxides have varying degrees of stabiUty, depending on their stmcture. They decompose by a variety of mechanisms and are not necessarily efficient generators of new radicals via thermolysis (19,20). 

If a self-sustained oxidation is carried out under limiting rate conditions, the hydroperoxide provides the new radicals to the system (by reaction 4 or analogues) and is maintained at a low concentration (decomposition rate = generation rate). For these circumstances, the rate equation 9 holds, where n = average number of initiating radicals produced (by any means) per molecule of ROOH decomposed and / = fraction of RH consumed which disappears by ROO attack (25). 

As the temperature is increased through the NTC zone, the contribution of alkylperoxy radicals falls. Littie alkyl hydroperoxide is made and hydrogen peroxide decomposition makes a greater contribution to radical generation. Eventually the rate goes through a minimum. At this point, reaction 2 is highly displaced to the left and alkyl radicals are the dominant radical species. 

Depending on the peroxide class, the rates of decomposition of organic peroxides can be enhanced by specific promoters or activators, which significantly decrease the energy necessary to break the oxygen—oxygen bond. Such accelerated decompositions occur well below the peroxides normal appHcation temperatures and usually result in generation of only one usehil radical, instead of two. An example is the decomposition of hydroperoxides with multivalent metals (M), commonly iron, cobalt, or vanadium ... 

Two secondary propagating reactions often accompany the initial peroxide decomposition radical-induced decompositions and -scission reactions. Both reactions affect the reactivity and efficiency of the initiation process. Peroxydicarbonates and hydroperoxides are particularly susceptible to radical-induced decompositions. In radical-induced decomposition, a radical in the system reacts with undecomposed peroxide, eg ... 

However, because of the high temperature nature of this class of peroxides (10-h half-life temperatures of 133—172°C) and their extreme sensitivities to radical-induced decompositions and transition-metal activation, hydroperoxides have very limited utiUty as thermal initiators. The oxygen—hydrogen bond in hydroperoxides is weak (368-377 kJ/mol (88.0-90.1 kcal/mol) BDE) andis susceptible to attack by higher energy radicals ... 

This is basically the same type of induced decomposition that occurs with other peroxide classes, eg, the dialkyl peioxydicaibonates and diacyl peroxides. Table 8. Commercial rerf-Alkyl Hydroperoxides ... 

Eithei oxidation state of a transition metal (Fe, Mn, V, Cu, Co, etc) can activate decomposition of the hydiopeioxide. Thus a small amount of tiansition-metal ion can decompose a laige amount of hydiopeioxide. Trace transition-metal contamination of hydroperoxides is known to cause violent decompositions. Because of this fact, transition-metal promoters should never be premixed with the hydroperoxide. Trace contamination of hydroperoxides (and ketone peroxides) with transition metals or their salts must be avoided. 

Sales demand for acetophenone is largely satisfied through distikative by-product recovery from residues produced in the Hock process for phenol (qv) manufacture. Acetophenone is produced in the Hock process by decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide. A more selective synthesis of acetophenone, by cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide over a cupric catalyst, has been patented (341). Acetophenone can also be produced by oxidizing the methylphenylcarbinol intermediate which is formed in styrene (qv) production processes using ethylbenzene oxidation, such as the ARCO and Halcon process and older technologies (342,343). 

Browning Reactions. The fluorescent components formed in the browning reaction (8) of peroxidized phosphatidylethanolamine are produced mainly by interaction of the amine group of PE and saturated aldehydes produced through the decomposition of fatty acid hydroperoxides. 

A number of chemiluminescent reactions may proceed through unstable dioxetane intermediates (12,43). For example, the classical chemiluminescent reactions of lophine [484-47-9] (18), lucigenin [2315-97-7] (20), and transannular peroxide decomposition. Classical chemiluminescence from lophine (18), where R = CgH, is derived from its reaction with oxygen in aqueous alkaline dimethyl sulfoxide or by reaction with hydrogen peroxide and a cooxidant such as sodium hypochlorite or potassium ferricyanide (44). The hydroperoxide (19) has been isolated and independentiy emits light in basic ethanol (45). 

Most likely singlet oxygen is also responsible for the red chemiluminescence observed in the reaction of pyrogaHol with formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous alkaU (152). It is also involved in chemiluminescence from the decomposition of secondary dialkyl peroxides and hydroperoxides (153), although triplet carbonyl products appear to be the emitting species (132). 

Alkyl hydroperoxides can be Hquids or soHds. Those having low molecular weight are soluble in water and are explosive in the pure state. As the molecular weight increases, ie, as the active oxygen content is reduced, water solubiUty and the violence of decomposition decrease. Alkyl hydroperoxides are stronger acids than the corresponding alcohols and have acidities similar to those of phenols, Alkyl hydroperoxides can be purified through their alkali metal salts (28). 

Alkyl hydroperoxides form stable alkaU metal salts with caustic however, when equimolar amounts of the hydroperoxide and its sodium salt are present in aqueous solution, rapid decomposition to tert-AcohoX and oxygen occurs (28). 

Hydroperoxides are photo- and thermally sensitive and undergo initial oxygen—oxygen bond homolysis, and they are readily attacked by free radicals undergoing induced decompositions (eqs. 8—10). 

Therefore, first-order, decomposition rates for alkyl hydroperoxides, ie, from oxygen—oxygen bond homolysis, are vaUd only if induced decomposition reactions... 

Although primary and secondary alkyl hydroperoxides are attacked by free radicals, as in equations 8 and 9, such reactions are not chain scission reactions since the alkylperoxy radicals terminate by disproportionation without forming the new radicals needed to continue the chain (53). Overall decomposition rates are faster than the tme first-order rates if radical-induced decompositions are not suppressed. 

The ultimate fate of the oxygen-centered radicals generated from alkyl hydroperoxides depends on the decomposition environment. In vinyl monomers, hydroperoxides can be used as efficient sources of free radicals because vinyl monomers generally are efficient radical scavengers which effectively suppress induced decomposition. When induced decomposition occurs, the hydroperoxide is decomposed with no net increase of radicals in the system (see eqs. 8, 9, and 10). Hydroperoxides usually are not effective free-radical initiators since radical-induced decompositions significantly decrease the efficiency of radical generation. Thermal decomposition-rate studies in dilute solutions show that alkyl hydroperoxides have 10-h HLTs of 133—172°C. 

Alkyl hydroperoxides are among the most thermally stable organic peroxides. However, hydroperoxides are sensitive to chain decomposition reactions initiated by radicals and/or transition-metal ions. Such decompositions, if not controlled, can be auto accelerating and sometimes can lead to violent decompositions when neat hydroperoxides or concentrated solutions of hydroperoxides are involved. 

Such solvent-derived radicals can induce the decomposition of the hydroperoxide or react with oxygen in the system to form peroxidic solvent molecules. They may also react with other radicals either by coupling or disproportionation. 

The decomposition products show that the initially formed radicals react by several mechanisms. These hydroperoxides are decomposed by bases, apparentiy by an ionic pathway, and are surprisingly stable in acids (33). 

In the preparation of hydroperoxides from hydrogen peroxide, dialkyl peroxides usually form as by-products from the alkylation of the hydroperoxide in the reaction mixture. The reactivity of the substrate (olefin or RX) with hydrogen peroxide is the principal restriction in the process. If elevated temperatures or strongly acidic or strongly basic conditions are required, extensive decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide and the hydroperoxide can occur. 

Organomineral hydroperoxides have been prepared from hydrogen peroxide and organomineral haUdes, hydroxides, oxides, peroxides, and amines (10,33). If HX is an acid, ammonia is used to prevent acidic decomposition. 

Other Hydroperoxides. Several hydrotrioxides including alkyl hydrotrioxides, R—OOOH, have been reported (63,64). There is strong spectroscopic evidence that a-cumyl hydrotrioxide [82951-48-2] is produced in the low temperature ozonization of cumene. Homolytic decomposition of a-cumyl hydrotrioxide in cumene/acetone-hindered phenol resulted in cumyl alcohol as the only organic product (65). Based on the... 

Alkoxyall l Hydroperoxides. These compounds (1, X = OR , R = H) have been prepared by the ozonization of certain unsaturated compounds in alcohol solvents (10,125,126). 2-Methoxy-2-hydroperoxypropane [10027-74 ] (1, X = OR , R" = methyl), has been generated in methanol solution and spectral data obtained (127). A rapid exothermic decomposition upon concentration of this peroxide in a methylene chloride—methanol solution at 0°C has been reported (128). 2-Bromo-l-methoxy-l-methylethylhydroperoxide [98821-14-8]has been distilled (bp 60°C (bath temp.), 0.013 kPa) (129). Two cycHc alkoxyaLkyl hydroperoxides from cyclodecanone have been reported (1, where X = OR R, R = 5-oxo-l, 9-nonanediyl) with mp 94—95°C (R" = methyl) and mp 66—68°C (R" = ethyl) (130). Like other hydroperoxides, alkoxyaLkyl hydroperoxides can be acylated or alkylated (130,131). 

The di(hydroxyaLkyl) peroxide (2) from cyclohexanone is a soHd which is produced commercially. The di(hydroxyaLkyl) peroxide (2) from 2,4-pentanedione (11, n = 1 X = OH) is a water-soluble soHd which is also produced commercially (see Table 5). Both these peroxides are used for curing cobalt-promoted unsaturated polyester resins. Because these peroxides are susceptible to promoted decomposition with cobalt, they must exist in solution as equihbrium mixtures with hydroperoxide stmctures (122,149). 

The most widely used process for the production of phenol is the cumene process developed and Hcensed in the United States by AHiedSignal (formerly AHied Chemical Corp.). Benzene is alkylated with propylene to produce cumene (isopropylbenzene), which is oxidized by air over a catalyst to produce cumene hydroperoxide (CHP). With acid catalysis, CHP undergoes controUed decomposition to produce phenol and acetone a-methylstyrene and acetophenone are the by-products (12) (see Cumene Phenol). Other commercial processes for making phenol include the Raschig process, using chlorobenzene as the starting material, and the toluene process, via a benzoic acid intermediate. In the United States, 35-40% of the phenol produced is used for phenoHc resins. 

Substantial decomposition of phenoHc resins begins above 300°C. In the presence of oxygen, the methylene bridging group is converted to a hydroperoxide which in turn yields alcohols and ketones on decomposition. 

Ethylbenzene Hydroperoxide Process. Figure 4 shows the process flow sheet for production of propylene oxide and styrene via the use of ethylbenzene hydroperoxide (EBHP). Liquid-phase oxidation of ethylbenzene with air or oxygen occurs at 206—275 kPa (30—40 psia) and 140—150°C, and 2—2.5 h are required for a 10—15% conversion to the hydroperoxide. Recycle of an inert gas, such as nitrogen, is used to control reactor temperature. Impurities ia the ethylbenzene, such as water, are controlled to minimize decomposition of the hydroperoxide product and are sometimes added to enhance product formation. Selectivity to by-products include 8—10% acetophenone, 5—7% 1-phenylethanol, and <1% organic acids. EBHP is concentrated to 30—35% by distillation. The overhead ethylbenzene is recycled back to the oxidation reactor (170—172). 

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