Sequence studies in liquid phase hydrocarbon oxidation. Part 5.—Temperature dependence of hydroperoxide–alcohol and hydroperoxide–ketone transitions

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the transition of α-phenylethylhydroperoxide into acetophenone and phenylmethylcarbinol during the oxidation of ethylbenzene has been studied by radioactive tracer methods.

It has been established that in these transitions the induced decomposition of the hydroperoxide molecules plays a decisive role within the temperature range investigated.

The rate constant of the interaction between hydroperoxide molecules and the chain carrier peroxy radicals yielding ketone has been calculated at different temperatures, and the activation energy and pre-exponential factor were determined.