Thermal decomposition of benzaldehyde diperoxide in isopropyl alcohol, effect of solvent polarity

Abstract

The thermal decomposition reaction of 3,6-difenil-1,2,4,5-tetroxano (benzaldehyde diperóxido, DFT, 0.001M) in isopropyl alcohol solution studied in the temperature range of 130.0-166.0°C, follows a first-order kinetic law up to at least 60% DTF conversion. The organic products observed were benzaldehyde, benzoic acid and molecular. A stepwise mechanism of decomposition was proposed where the first step is the homolytic unimolecular rupture of the O-O bond. The activation enthalpy and activation entropy for DFT in isopropyl alcohol were calculated (ΔH# = 13.3±0,9 kcal mol-1 and ΔS# = -39.9±1,0 cal mol-1K-1) and compared with those obtained in other solvents to evaluate the solvent effect.