Oxidation agents organic peroxy acids

Peracetic acid is the most widely used organic peroxy acid. It is a strong oxidizer, which could he used in disinfection and bleaching agent. Peracetic acid can be synthesized from acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The formation of peracetic acid takes place in the equilibrium reaction (1). In order to accelerate the reaction rate, acid catalyst is needed (Swem, D., 1970). Conventionally homogeneous sulphuric acid catalyst is used. The reaction scheme is shown in Eq. (1)... 

Peroxy acids are structurally related to hydrogen peroxide H—O—O—H, and peroxy acids are good oxidizing agents. On a large scale, peracetic acid (eq. 8.18, R = CH3) is used, whereas in the laboratory, organic peroxy acids such as m-chloroperbenzoic acid (R = m-chlorophenyl) are frequently used. 

In the organic chemicals industry, H2O2 is used in the production of epoxides, propylene oxide, and caprolactones for PVC stabilizers and polyurethanes, in the manufacture of organic peroxy compounds for use as polymerization initiators and curing agents, and in the synthesis of fine chemicals such as hydroquinone, pharmaceuticals (e.g. cephalosporin) and food products (e.g. tartaric acid). 

Toxicity. The peroxy acid is highly toxic and may cause death or permanent injury after very short exposure to small quants (Ref 12) Uses. Peroxyacetic acid is the most important epoxidation reagent used today because of its economical availability and ease of use with a wide variety of reactants (Ref 10). It also finds wide usage as an organic oxidizing agent (Ref 11) Refs 1) Beil 2, 169, (78), [174] [379 ... 

N-Oxidation takes place readily with compounds containing the per-oxy link (-0-0-). Hydrogen peroxide, alkyl peroxides (especially t-butyl hydroperoxide), and peroxy acids (notably m-chloroperbenzoic acid, ArC(O)OOH) are used most frequently. The common oxidizing agents of organic chemistry, such as dichromates and permanganates, have no effect on pyridine. In fact, a pyridine-chromic oxide mixture is used for the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds. Pyridine N-oxide and related compounds retain aromatic character but have some valuable properties, which will be discussed in section 6.3.1.12. 

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