Diacetyl peroxide

Diacyl peroxides are organic chemical compounds which are derived from carboxylic acids.

Production

The reaction of hydrogen peroxide with carboxylic peracids supplies; when using an excess of the carboxylic anhydride is obtained, however, diacyl peroxides. Alternatively can be prepared using hydrogen peroxide in alkaline solution diacyl by the reaction of carboxylic acid chlorides.

For the industrial synthesis of diacetyl acetic anhydride is reacted with sodium metaborate · Peroxidhydrat.

Use

Diacyl peroxides decompose when heated slightly in Acyloxyradikale and alkyl or aryl radicals. Therefore, diacyl peroxides are often used as initiators for free-radical reactions. Examples:

• Free-radical addition of hydrogen halides to alkenes.
• Radical initiator in the production of synthetic elastomers, peroxide activators.

Safety note

When handling diacyl caution. In particular, the aliphatic members of this group tend to explosive decomposition. In art, therefore, is often neglected in the isolation of pure diacyl peroxides. Instead, we often use solutions of diacyl peroxides.