NEW METHOD IN FREE-RADICAL CHEMISTRY USING 2,4-DIPHENYL-4-METHYL-1-PENTENE AS RADICAL TRAPPING AGENT

The thermal decomposition of four dialkyl peroxides was carried out in 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene (alpha-methylstyrene dimer, MSD) at 1 40 degrees. Free radicals generated from the peroxides efficiently add ed to the double bond of MSD, and the adduct radicals underwent fragme ntation to give olefinic compounds (1) and cumyl radicals. The charact erization of 1 provided useful information about the free radical spec ies that added to the styrenic double bond of MSD. The present method using MSD as a radical trapping agent is useful for investigating the initiation mechanisms of organic peroxides even at high temperature.