HO2 ELIMINATION FROM α-HYDROXYALKYLPEROXYL RADICALS IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Abstract— In aqueous solutions α-hydroxyalkylperoxyl radicals undergo a spontaneous and a base catalysed HO₂ elimination. From kinetic deuterium isotope effects, temperature dependence, and the influence of solvent polarity it was concluded that the spontaneous reaction occurs via an HO₂ elimination followed by the dissociation of the latter into H⁺ and O₂^-. The rate constant of the spontaneous HO₂ elimination increases with increasing methyl substitution in α-position ( k (CH₂(OH)O₂) < 10s^-1 k (CH₃CH(OH)O₂) = 52s^-1 k ((CH₃)₂C(OH)O₂) = 665 s^-1). The OH^- catalysed reaction is somewhat below diffusion controlled. The mixture of peroxyl radicals derived from polyhydric alcohols eliminate HO₂ at two different rates. Possible reasons for this behaviour are discussed. The mixture of the six peroxyl radicals derived from d -glucose are observed to eliminate HO₂ with at least three different rates. The fastest rate is attributed to the HO₂ elimination from the peroxyl radical at C-l ( k > 7000s^-1). Because of the HO₂ eliminations the peroxyl radicals derived from d -glucose do not undergo a chain reaction in contrast to peroxyl radicals not containing an α-OH group. In competition with the first order elimination reactions the α-hydroxylalkylperoxyl radicals undergo a bimolecular decay. These reactions are briefly discussed.