Dialkyl peroxides, thermolysis

Because di-/ fZ-alkyl peroxides are less susceptible to radical-induced decompositions, they are safer and more efficient radical generators than primary or secondary dialkyl peroxides. They are the preferred dialkyl peroxides for generating free radicals for commercial appHcations. Without reactive substrates present, di-/ fZ-alkyl peroxides decompose to generate alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, and minor amounts of ethers, epoxides, and carbon monoxide. Photolysis of di-/ fZ-butyl peroxide generates / fZ-butoxy radicals at low temperatures (75), whereas thermolysis at high temperatures generates methyl radicals by P-scission (44). 

For further examples of dichotomous solvent-influenced radical/ionic perester decompositions, see the base-catalyzed perester fragmentation shown in Eq. (5-39) in Section 5.3.2 [110], as well as the decomposition of t-butyl heptafluoroperoxybutyrate, C3p7-C0-0-0-C(CH3)3 [691]. The relative extent of monomolecular and induced thermal decomposition of disubstituted dibenzyl peroxydicarbonate, ArCH2-0-C0-0-0-C0-0-CH2Ar, is also substantially influenced by the reaction medium [692]. The thermolysis of suitable dialkyl peroxides can also proceed by two solvent-dependent competitive reaction pathways (homolytic and electrocyclic reaction), as already shown by Eq. (5-59) in Section 5.3.4 [564]. 

Free radicals may be generated by oxidation, reduction, or by homolytic cleavage of one or more covalent bonds, such as C—C bonds e.g. dimers of triarylmethyl radicals), N—N bonds e.g. tetrasubstituted hydrazines), O—O bonds e.g. hydroperoxides, dialkyl and diacyl peroxides, peroxycarboxylic esters), C—N bonds e.g. dialkyl azo compounds), and N—O bonds (as in the thermolysis of nitrogen pentoxide O2N— O—NO2). Two typical examples, which have been investigated in different solvents, are given in Eqs. (5-56) and (5-57) cf. also reaction (5-39a) in Section 5.3.2. 

The t-butylsulphinyl radical has been identified in the photolysis product of di-t-butyl peroxide and t-butylsulphenic acid, in toluene or isopentane at -40 to -60 °C, and the powerful anti-oxidant action of dialkyl sulphoxides on the autoxidation of hydrocarbons has been ascribed to radicalscavenging properties of the sulphenic acid produced from the sulphoxide on thermolysis. "... 

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