Process for the production of peroxyesters

A process for production of a peroxyester comprising the following steps:

• a) producing a mixture comprising one or more peroxyesters and one or more carboxylic acid salts or adducts by reacting an anhydride with the formula R1—C(═O)—O—C(═O)—R2 with an organic hydroperoxide of the formula R3(OOH)n in the presence of a base, wherein R1 is chosen from linear and branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and arylalkyl groups with 1-17 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with oxygen- and/or halogen-containing substituents, R2 is chosen from linear and branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and arylalkyl groups with 2-17 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with oxygen- and/or halogen-containing substituents, R3 is a tertiary alkyl group with 3-18 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with oxygen- and/or halogen-containing groups and/or unsaturated groups, and n is an integer of 1-3,
• b) separating the one or more carboxylic acid salts or adducts from the mixture produced in step a),
• c) liberating the carboxylic acid from the salt or adduct,
• d) optionally producing an additional amount of carboxylic acid by reacting an aldehyde of the formula R2—C(═O)H with oxygen,
• e) reacting the carboxylic acid obtained in step c) and optionally an additional amount of carboxylic acid of the formula R2—C(═O)OH—the additional amount of carboxylic acid being obtained from step d) and/or obtained in another way—with an acid anhydride or a ketene of the formula C(R4)2=C=O, each R4 being independently chosen from H and CH3, to form an anhydride with the formula R1—C(═O)—O—C(═O)—R2, and
• f) recycling at least part of the anhydride formed in step e) to step a).