Organic hydroperoxides hydroperoxide-based chemistry

The transition metal based catalytic species derived from hydrogen peroxide or alkyl hydroperoxides are currently regarded as the most active oxidants for the majority of inorganic and organic substrates " An understanding of the mechanism of these processes is therefore a crucial point in the chemistry of catalytic oxidations. This knowledge allows one to predict not only the nature of the products in a given process, but also the stereochemical outcome in asymmetric reactions. 

In the development of effective catalytic oxidation systems, there is a qualitative correlation between the desirability of the net or terminal oxidant, (OX in equation 1 and DO in equation 2) and the complexity of its chemistry and the difficulty of its use. The desirability of an oxidant is inversely proportional to its cost and directly proportional to the selectivity, rate, and stability of the associated oxidation reaction. The weight % of active oxygen, ease of deployment, and environmental friendliness of the oxidant are also key issues. Pertinent data for representative oxidants are summarized in Table I (4). The most desirable oxidant, in principle, but the one with the most complex chemistry, is O2. The radical chain or autoxidation chemistry inherent in 02-based organic oxidations, whether it is mediated by redox active transition metal ions, nonmetal species, metal oxide surfaces, or other species, is fascinatingly complex and represents nearly a field unto itself (7,75). Although initiation, termination, hydroperoxide breakdown, concentration dependent inhibition... 

From Cumene Hydroperoxide. This process illustrates industrial chemistry at its best. Overall, it is a method for converting two relatively inexpensive organic compounds—benzene and propene—into two more valuable ones—phenol and acetone. The only other substance consumed in the process is oxygen from air. Most of the worldwide production of phenol is now based on this method. The synthesis... 

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