Alpha-Methylstyrene → Dicumyl peroxide

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into a 100 ml. open-top, jacketed reactor was placed 19.2 g. (0.162 m.) of α-methylstyrene, 4.4 g. (0.0285 m.) of distilled cumyl chloride and 37 g. (0.20 m.) of 82% assay cumene hydroperoxide. The mixture was stirred at 40 ± 2° C. for 5 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to 20° and then stirred for 15 minutes with 40 ml. of 20% sodium hydroxide solution. The aqueous layer was discarded. The washing with caustic was repeated twice and the organic layer washed with 50 ml. portions of 20% sodium chloride solution until neutral. The organic layer was added to 400 ml. of water and the mixture distilled at 80-90 mm. on a steam bath until no further oil came over with the water. The pot residue was stirred vigorously and cooled to 0° by adding ice.

Provenance & Evidence