The decomposition kinetics of benzoyl peroxide in pyridine and in pyridine–benzene

Abstract

The decomposition kinetics of benzoyl peroxide in pyridine and in pyridine–benzene have been studied in the presence and absence of an inhibitor. We observed that pyridine could induce the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide, the reaction of which was first-order with respect to the peroxide and pyridine, respectively, to give pyridine N-oxide and benzoic anhydride. We demonstrated that pyridine cation radicals are not formed in the reaction. The unusual decrease of the first-order rate constant for the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide in pyridine with the increase of the initial concentration is ascribed to a decomposition induced by the dihydro- and tetrahydropyridines which predominates at low initial concentrations.