Kinetics of the acid-catalysed formation of aliphatic peracids from hydrogen peroxide and aliphatic acids in dioxan

Abstract

The acid catalysed formation of peracids from substituted acetic acids and hydrogen peroxide has been studied kinetically in dioxan. The rates of peracid formation together with equilibrium constants increase with increasing concentration of sulphuric acid and are correlated with the acidity of the media. The substituent effect suggests that the reaction is controlled by steric rather than polar effects. A mechanism similar to acid-catalysed esterification is discussed.