2-(t-Butylazo)prop-2-yl hydroperoxide: a convenient source of hydroxyl radicals in organic media

Abstract

In the presence of a suitable nitroxide, 2-(t-butylazo)prop-2-yl hydroperoxide (1a) decomposes cleanly into hydroxyl and t-butyl radicals; the rate constant for its disappearance in cyclohexane is given by: k= 9.58 × 10¹⁴ exp. (–1.47 × 10⁴/T)s^–1.