Abstract
The title reaction in benzene gives a C-nitroso compound, tert-butanol and presumably water according to the equation : RNHOH+tert-BuOOH→R-N=O+tert-BuOH+H2O During the reaction electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra due to [chemical formula]·is observed. In the presence of a large excess of N-alkylhydroxylamine, tert-butylhydroperoxide decomposes through a 1 : 2 complex with N-alkylhydroxylamine and the activation energy of the reaction is about 12 kcal. Unless N-alkylhydroxylamine is present in fairly large excess, tert-butylhydroperoxide decomposes by direct homolysis : tert-BuOOH→tert-BuO·+HO· and the activation energy is about 33 kcal.
