Peroxides of elements other than carbon. Part XI. The autoxidation of some trialkylboroxines

Abstract

Trialkylboroxines in solution react with oxygen to give organoperoxyboron compounds. Tri-t-butylboroxine gives tri-t-butylperoxyboroxine in good yield. With tri-s-butylboroxine the reaction proceeds to about 80% completion, and with tri-n-butylboroxine a maximum of only about two thirds of the theoretical amount of oxygen is absorbed. The mechanism of the oxidation is discussed, and it is pointed out that the evidence does not exclude the possibility of a free-radical process.