The interaction between polymerization initiators and inhibitors in solution—IV: The reaction of benzoyl peroxide with hydroquinone in solution

The reaction between benzoyl peroxide and hydroquinone in a wide variety of solvents has been investigated by isolation and identification of the products. Benzoic acid, p-benzoquinone and benzoyloxy derivatives of p-benzoquinone are obtained under all conditions. Their relative amounts are largely determined by the molar ratios of the reactants and the nature of the solvent. In strongly polar solvents of high solvation power, p-benzoquinone is formed in preference to its derivatives. Nevertheless, the yield of 2,5-dibenzoyloxy p-benzoquinone reaches a maximum in acrylonitrile. Only in this solvent, at equal molar ratios of reactants, is full substitution in the hydroquinone nucleus achieved with the formation of tetrabenzoyloxy hydroquinone. These facts, together with the partial polymerization of acrylonitrile at room temperature at slightly higher peroxide/hydroquinone ratios and the complete suppression of the polymerization when perchloric acid is added, could be explained by a heterolytic mechanism involving the formation and controlled separation of ion pairs derived from the reactants.