The decomposition of alkyl peroxides: dipropyl peroxide, ethyl hydrogen peroxide and propyl hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

In a previous paper (Harris and Egerton 1938) the results of an investigation of the decomposition of diethyl peroxide have been published. The present communication deals with the related compounds ( a ) dipropyl peroxide, which closely resembles the diethyl compound as it decomposes unimolecularly, ( b ) ethyl hydrogen peroxide, and (c) propyl hydrogen peroxide. The two latter decompose heterogeneously at lower temperatures, while at higher temperatures they decompose luminously in absence of added oxygen. Dipropyl peroxide does not appear to have been mentioned in the literature; it was isolated from the products of a preparation of propyl hydrogen peroxide. The latter was prepared by Medvedeef and Alexeeva (1932), who found that the substance did not liberate the theoretical quantity of iodine from potassium iodide. In solution it decomposed to propaldehyde. Ethyl hydrogen peroxide or homologues may be of importance in slow combustion reactions, and is said to have been identified in combination with formaldehyde among the products of .slow oxidation of octane (Mondain-Monval 1932).