Di-t-butyl peroxide
Encyclopedia
Di-tert-butyl peroxide or DTBP is an organic compound
consisting of a peroxide
group flanked by two tert-butyl groups. It is amongst the most stable organic peroxide
s. The peroxide bond undergoes homolysis
at temperatures >100 °C, and for this reason di-tert-butyl peroxide is commonly used as a radical initiator
in organic synthesis and polymer chemistry.
This compound will decompose aerobically and also anaerobically, making it a very interesting fuel
source.
Decomposition reaction:
3COOC(CH3)3 (g) → C2H6
(g) + 2 (CH3)2CO
(g)
Two Canadian scientists, H. O. Pritchard and P. Q. E. Clothier, have demonstrated and suggested the use of DTBP in engines where oxygen
is limited, since it will work whether or not oxygen is present.
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
consisting of a peroxide
Peroxide
A peroxide is a compound containing an oxygen–oxygen single bond or the peroxide anion .The O−O group is called the peroxide group or peroxo group. In contrast to oxide ions, the oxygen atoms in the peroxide ion have an oxidation state of −1.The simplest stable peroxide is hydrogen peroxide...
group flanked by two tert-butyl groups. It is amongst the most stable organic peroxide
Organic peroxide
Organic peroxides are organic compounds containing the peroxide functional group . If the R' is hydrogen, the compound is called an organic hydroperoxide. Peresters have general structure RCOOR. The O-O bond easily breaks and forms free radicals of the form RO·...
s. The peroxide bond undergoes homolysis
Homolysis
In general it means breakdown to equal pieces There are separate meanings for the word in chemistry and biology.-Homolysis in chemistry:...
at temperatures >100 °C, and for this reason di-tert-butyl peroxide is commonly used as a radical initiator
Radical initiator
In chemistry, radical initiators are substances that can produce radical species under mild conditions and promote radical reactions . These substances generally possess weak bonds—bonds that have small bond dissociation energies. Radical initiators are utilized in industrial processes such...
in organic synthesis and polymer chemistry.
This compound will decompose aerobically and also anaerobically, making it a very interesting fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
source.
Decomposition reaction:
3COOC(CH3)3 (g) → C2H6
Ethane
Ethane is a chemical compound with chemical formula C2H6. It is the only two-carbon alkane that is an aliphatic hydrocarbon. At standard temperature and pressure, ethane is a colorless, odorless gas....
(g) + 2 (CH3)2CO
Acetone
Acetone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid, the simplest example of the ketones.Acetone is miscible with water and serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for cleaning purposes in the laboratory...
(g)
Two Canadian scientists, H. O. Pritchard and P. Q. E. Clothier, have demonstrated and suggested the use of DTBP in engines where oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
is limited, since it will work whether or not oxygen is present.