The major products of the self-reaction of 1,1-diphenylethylperoxyl have been determined from product studies of the autoxidation of 1,1-diphenylethane, induced decomposition of 1,1-diphenylethyl hydroperoxide, and decomposition of 2,2,3,3-tetraphenylbutane under an atmosphere of oxygen. Overall self-reaction is a complex free-radical process involving the intermediacy of 1,1-diphenylethoxyl and 1-phenyl-1-phenoxyethoxyl which undergo H-atom abstraction, β-scission and, in the case of the former radical, rearrangement. Hydroperoxide decomposition under an atmosphere of 36O2 has shown that 1,1-diphenylethylperoxyl undergoes β-scission faster than α-cumylperoxyl at 303 K in solution. The values of the rate constants for self-reaction of Ph2C(Me)O2• relative to those for tert-butylperoxyl are, however, not affected by this reaction. Furthermore they are not affected to any appreciable extent by the efficiency with which Ph2C(Me)O•, formed in nonterminating self-reactions, escape from the solvent cage. They are influenced principally by the first-order rate of decomposition of Ph2C(Me)OOOOC(Me)Ph2.
Free Radical Process