Preparation of 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide and derivatives thereof

A process for preparing 2,5-dimethyl-2-t-butylperoxyhexane comprising:

• (a) adding sulfuric acid to a 60-70% hydrogen peroxide solution to form a first reaction mixture wherein said first reaction mixture is controlled at a temperature in the range of from about -10.degree. C. to about 10.degree. C.;
• (b) adding 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroxy hexane to said first reaction mixture to form a second reaction mixture wherein said second reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 20.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to about 5 hours whereby a slurry is formed, wherein said slurry contains a solid product of 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide;
• (c) lowering the temperature of said slurry to the range of from about -10.degree. C. to about 10.degree. C.;
• thereafter
• (d) adding water to said slurry and washing said solid product;
• and
• (e) adding sulfated t-butanol to said solid product to form a third reaction mixture;
• wherein said sulfated t-butanol is prepared by mixing t-butanol with sulfuric acid and said third reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 30.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. for about 1 to about 5 hours to prepare said 2,5-dimethyl-2-t-butylperoxyhexane.

A process for preparing 1,5-dimethyl-2-5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane comprising:

• (a) adding sulfuric acid to a 60-70% hydrogen peroxide solution to form a first reaction mixture wherein said first reaction mixture is controlled at a temperature in the range of from about -10.degree. C. to about 10.degree. C.;
• (b) adding 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydroxy hexane to said first reaction mixture to form a second reaction mixture wherein said second reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 20.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to about 5 hours whereby a slurry is formed, wherein said slurry contains a solid product of 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide;
• (c) lowering the temperature of said slurry to the range of from about -10.degree. C. to about 10.degree. C.;
• thereafter
• (d) adding water to said slurry and washing said solid product;
• (e) adding t-butanol to said solid product to form an intermediate solution;
• and
• (f) adding sulfated t-butanol to said intermediate solution to form a third reaction mixture;
• wherein said sulfated t-butanol is prepared by mixing t-butanol with sulfuric acid and said third reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature in the range of from about 30.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. for about 1 to about 5 hours to prepare said 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane.