ACID-CATALYZED DECOMPOSITIONS OF HYDROPEROXIDES IN THE PRESENCE OF KETONES

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00960642

Ketones and aldehydes accelerate decomposition of hydroperoxides in acetonitrile solution in the presence of strong acids.An explanation of the effect, due to the formation of semiperketals (semiperacetals) which undergo rapid acid-catalytic decomposition, is proposed.The macrostage character of the reaction of acid-catalyzed decomposition of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide was demonstrated for the first time.The initially slow decomposition takes place homolytically and yields the product cyclohexanone, which accelerates decomposition.