tert-Butyl hydroperoxide
tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH) is the organic compound with the formula (CH3)3COOH. It is a hydroperoxide, in fact one of the most widely used in a variety of oxidation processes, for example the Halcon process.[3] It is normally supplied as a 69–70% aqueous solution. Compared to hydrogen peroxide and organic peracids, tert-butyl hydroperoxide is less reactive, more soluble in organic solvents. Overall, it is renowned for the convenient handling properties of its solutions. Its solutions in organic solvents are highly stable.
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| Names | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name
2-Methylpropane-2-peroxol[1] | |||
| Systematic IUPAC name
tert-Butyl hydroperoxide | |||
| Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) |
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| Abbreviations | TBHP | ||
| 1098280 | |||
| ChEMBL | |||
| ChemSpider | |||
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.833 | ||
| EC Number |
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| MeSH | tert-Butylhydroperoxide | ||
PubChem CID |
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| RTECS number |
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| UNII | |||
| UN number | 3109 | ||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |||
| C4H10O2 | |||
| Molar mass | 90.122 g·mol−1 | ||
| Appearance | Colorless liquid | ||
| Density | 0.935 g/mL | ||
| Melting point | −3 °C (27 °F; 270 K) | ||
| Boiling point | 37 °C (99 °F; 310 K) at 2.0 kPa | ||
| miscible | |||
| log P | 1.23 | ||
| Acidity (pKa) | 12.69 | ||
| Basicity (pKb) | 1.31 | ||
Refractive index (nD) |
1.3870 | ||
| Thermochemistry | |||
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) |
−294±5 kJ/mol | ||
Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) |
2.710±0.005 MJ/mol | ||
| Hazards | |||
| GHS labelling: | |||
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| Danger | |||
| H226, H242, H302, H311, H314, H317, H331, H341, H411 | |||
| P220, P261, P273, P280, P305+P351+P338, P310 | |||
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
| Flash point | 43 °C (109 °F; 316 K) | ||
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | |||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |||
Application
Industrially, tert-butyl hydroperoxide is used to prepare propylene oxide. In the Halcon process, molybdenum-based catalysts are used for this reaction:
- (CH3)3COOH + CH2=CHCH3 → (CH3)3COH + CH2OCHCH3
The byproduct t-butanol, which can be dehydrated to isobutene and convert to MTBE.
On a much smaller scale, tert-butyl hydroperoxide is used to produce some fine chemicals by the Sharpless epoxidation.[4]
Synthesis and production
Many synthetic routes are available,[5] e.g. by the auto-oxidation of isobutane.[3]
Safety
tert-butyl hydroperoxide is potentially dangerous, but explosions are rare.[3]
A solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and water with a concentration of greater than 90% is forbidden to be shipped according to US Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Table 49 CFR 172.101.
In some sources it also has an NFPA 704 rating of 4 for health, 4 for flammability, 4 for reactivity and is a potent oxidant,[6] however other sources claim lower ratings of 3-2-2 or 1-4-4.[7][8]
See also
References
- "IUPAC Complete Draft 2004" (PDF).
- Cameo Chemicals, reference for NFPA values.
- Roger A. Sheldon (1983). Patai, Saul (ed.). Syntheses and Uses of Hydroperoxides and Dialkylperoxides. PATAI'S Chemistry of Functional Groups. John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/9780470771730.ch6.
- tert-butyl hydroperoxide at Organic Chemistry Portal
- Jose Sanchez; Terry N. Myers. "Peroxides and Peroxide Compounds, Organic Peroxides". Kirk‑Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. doi:10.1002/0471238961.1518070119011403.a01.
- "TERT-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE" at CAMEO Chemicals NOAA
- tert-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE at Chemicalland21
- tert-Butyl hydroperoxide at http://environmentalchemistry.com








