GB950978A - Process for preparing diacylperoxides - Google Patents

Abstract

Aliphatic or aromatic diacylperoxides are prepared by heating an acyl chloride with hydrogen peroxide and an alkali metal hydroxide at 40 DEG to 65 DEG C. in the presence of water and cooling the product directly the reaction is complete. It is preferable to preheat the hydroxide to 30 DEG to 50 DEG C. and to agitate the reaction mixture at 50 DEG to 60 DEG C. Acidification of the warm reaction mixture is necessary when preparing diacylperoxides of long-chain aliphatic acids to prevent the formation of foams and emulsions. In a preferred embodiment a solvent, or solvent mixture, in which diacylperoxides are highly soluble in the warm but not in the cold and which is immiscible with water, e.g. a saturated hydrocarbon or carbon tetrachloride, is used together with water to prevent foam and emulsion formation; the diacylperoxide being obtained by cooling the organic phase. Both methods, i.e. with and without the immiscible solvent, may be performed batchwise or continuously and it is of advantage to leave a small amount of acyl chloride in the solvent, which in the continuous process, may be recycled with the solvent. The examples illustrate the preparation of dilauroyl dibenzoyl, dicapryloyl and diisovaleryl peroxides.