The Journal of Organic Chemistry

Thermolysis of 4-methyl-4-(1-propenyl) malonyl peroxide: mechanistic limits to chemiluminescence efficiency

JE Porter, GB Schuster

Index: Porter, Judith E.; Schuster, Gary B. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1985 , vol. 50, # 21 p. 4068 - 4071

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Citation Number: 3

Abstract

The preparation and thermal chemistry of 4-methyl-4-(1-propeny1) malonyl peroxide (3) is described. Thermolysis in acetonitrile at 84" C gives 2, 4-dimethylbut-2-en-4-olide in 45% yield and an oligomeric ester derived from an intermediate a-lactone in 55% yield. The reaction of 3 can be catalyzed by aromatic hydrocarbons such as perylene. Under these conditions weak chemiluminescence results. The mechanism for light generation is ...