Abstract: Di-tert-butyl 1, 4-benzenediperacetate (15) reacts in cumene with rates and activation parameters (kl= 8.83 X sI at 100.3 OC, AH*= 26.9 kcal/mol, AS*=-1.0 eu) that require a mechanism involving rate-determining two-bond scission to form the tert-butyl p- benzylperacetate radical (12). The observed products are consistent with a scheme whereby 12 undergoes couplings and further reactions without the intervention of p-xylylene as an ...