Liquid-phase oxidation of isopropyl-meta-xylene to tertiary hydroperoxide

Fundamental aspects and the mechanism of the reaction of liquid-phase oxidation of isopropyl-meta-xylene to a tertiary hydroperoxide by atmospheric oxygen, initiated by isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide or catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide were studied. It was found that using N-hydroxyphthalimide in the course of oxidation of isopropyl-meta-xylene makes it possible to raise, compared with the initiator (isopropylbenzene hydroperoxide), the oxidation rate and the conversion of the hydrocarbon by a factor of 2–2.5 at a 90–95% formation selectivity of a tertiary hydroperoxide of isopropyl-meta-xylene up to a conversion of 20–25%.