RADICAL DECOMPOSITION OF TERT-BUTYL HYPOCHLORITE CATALYZED BY ACIDS AND LITHIUM-SALTS

Bronsted acids and lithium salts are shown to accelerate free radical generation in the tert-butyl hypochlorite-cumene system in chlorobenze ne and acetonitrile in an atmosphere of oxygen. Judging from die rate of cumene oxidation in chlorobenzene, catalytic homolysis is first-ord er with respect to acetic acid, cumene, and tert-butyl hypochlorite. T he contribution of homolysis to the net process of catalytic decomposi tion is about 2%. The reaction mechanism is discussed.