Peroxy acid
A peroxy acid,[1] also written peroxyacid or shortened to peracid,[2] is an acid where an acidic hydrogen atom is bonded to two consecutive oxygen atoms. They have a hydroperoxide functional group, –OOH.
Peroxy acids are weaker acids but stronger oxidizers than related oxoacids.
Production
Many oxoacids can be changed to peroxy acids in a chemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide. An example of this is the production of peroxymonosulfuric acid:[3]
- H
2SO
4 + H
2O
2 → H
2SO
5 + H
2O
Organic peracids can be made from carboxylic acids or their derivatives, like acid anhydrides or acyl chlorides.[4]
Uses
A major use for peroxy acids and their salts is the oxidation of alkenes into epoxides. If an organic peroxy acid is used, this is a name reaction called the Prilezhaev reaction.[2] Potassium peroxymonosulfate, sold commercially in a mix of salts called Oxone, is an inorganic peroxy acid salt used in a similar reaction.[5]
Peroxy Acid Media
General formulas of an organic peroxy acid (top) compared with a carboxylic acid (bottom).
m-chlorobenzoyl chloride + hydrogen peroxide → m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid
Formation of an epoxide from an alkene and a peroxycarboxylic acid.
References
- ↑ International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. "Peroxy acid". Compendium of Chemical Terminology Internet edition.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Prilezhaev ReactionOrganic Chemistry Portal. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ↑ Colin F. McDonogh and Neil J. Sanders, "Manufacture of peroxidic compositions", US patent 5429812, issued 1995-07-04
- ↑ Peroxy Acids and EstersOrganic Chemistry Portal. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
- ↑ In Situ Catalytic Epoxidation of Olefins with Tetrahydrothiopyran-4-One and Oxone: trans-2-methyl-2,3-diphenyloxirane. Org. Synth. 78 (2002). p. 225.