1570. tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 75-91-2
1,1-Dimethylethylhydroperoxide.
C4H10O2; mol wt 90.12.
C 53.31%, H 11.18%, O 35.51%.

Description and references

Prepn from tert-butyl alcohol and 30% H2O2: N. A. Milas, S. A. Harris, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 60, 2434 (1938); N. A. Milas, Surgenor, ibid. 68, 205 (1946); US 2573947 (1951 to Shell). By oxidation of tert-butylmagnesium chloride: Walling, Buckler, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75, 4372 (1953); 77, 6032 (1955).

Chemical structure

Properties

Liquid. Stable to 75°. d420 0.896. mp -8°. bp20 35°. nD20 1.4007. Sol in organic solvents. Flammable. Slow first-order decompn can be accelerated by the presence of 1 mol-% of Cu, Co and Mn salts.

Use

Catalyst in polymerization reactions. To introduce peroxy group into org molecules, in radical substitution reactions: Kharasch, Fono, J. Org. Chem. 23, 325 (1948); see also Kharasch, Sosnovsky, Tetrahedron 3, 97, 105 (1958).