AN UNEXPECTED MECHANISM OF ACTION OF THE STYRENE POLYMERIZATION RETARDER 2,4-DINITRO-6-SEC-BUTYLPHENOL

The reaction of 'DNBP' (2,4-dinitro-6-sec-butylphenol) with toluene, e thylbenzene or styrene and tert-butylperoxide at 110 degrees C leads t o 7-sec-butyl-5-nitro-2-phenylbenzoxazole This benzoxazole was also de tected in the residues of an industrial styrene fractionation still in which DNBP was routinely used as the polymerisation retarder. The for mation of this product from either ethyl benzene or from styrene invol ves a carbon-carbon bond cleavage step. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.