Dicumyl peroxide is an
organic compound
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon- hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. Th ...
with the formula (Me = CH
3). Classified as a
dialky peroxide, it is produced on a large scale industrially for use as an initiator for the production of
low density polyethylene.
Production
It is synthesized as a by-product in the
autoxidation
Autoxidation (sometimes auto-oxidation) refers to oxidations brought about by reactions with oxygen at normal temperatures, without the intervention of flame or electric spark. The term is usually used to describe the gradual degradation of organi ...
of
cumene
Cumene (isopropylbenzene) is an organic compound that contains a benzene ring with an isopropyl substituent. It is a constituent of crude oil and refined fuels. It is a flammable colorless liquid that has a boiling point of 152 °C. Near ...
, which mainly affords
cumene hydroperoxide
Cumene hydroperoxide is the organic compound with the formula C6H5CMe2OOH (Me = CH3). An oily liquid, it is classified as an organic hydroperoxide. Products of decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide are methylstyrene, acetophenone, and cumyl a ...
. Alternatively, it can be produced by the addition of
hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula . In its pure form, it is a very pale blue liquid that is slightly more viscous than water. It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, usually as a dilute solution (3% ...
to
α-methylstyrene.
Of the ca. 60,000 ton/y production of dialkyl peroxides, dicumyl peroxide is dominant.
Properties
Dicumyl peroxide is relatively stable compound owing to the steric protection provided by the several substituents adjacent to the peroxide group. Upon heating, it breaks down by
homolysis of the relatively weak O-O bond.
References
Organic compounds
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