Metal complexes as antioxidants. 8. A kinetic and product study of the reaction of tertiary alkylperoxy radicals with cobalt(II) acetylacetonate

tert-Butylperoxy radicals react rapidly with Co(acac)2 in non-polar solvents and rate constants measured by kinetic electron spin resonance spectroscopy obey the Arrhenius equation log (nk/M−1 s−1) = (8.9 ± 0.7) − (4.7 ± 1.5)/θ, where θ = 2.303RT kcal mol−1 and n is ~ 0.1. Cumylperoxy radicals react with Co(acac)2 to give mainly α-cumyl alcohol and acetophenone. There is no evidence for the formation of "long-lived" alkylperoxy radicals co-ordinated to cobalt (III) or a stable alkylperoxo cobalt(III) complex in these systems.