Organic peroxides

<p>In <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>, organic peroxides are <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compounds</a> containing the <a href="/facts/Peroxide/VMU8y4xB">peroxide</a> <a href="/facts/Functional_group/GXkSPsjM">functional group</a> (R−O−O−R′). If the R′ is <a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">hydrogen</a>, the compounds are called <a href="/facts/Hydroperoxide/w7hdgtVF">hydroperoxides</a>, which are discussed in that article. The O−O bond of peroxides easily breaks, producing <a href="/facts/Free_radical/qFymuVoT">free radicals</a> of the form RO• (the dot represents an <a href="/facts/Unpaired_electron/yJTW1urJ">unpaired electron</a>). Thus, organic peroxides are useful as <a href="/facts/Radical_initiator/8XlX2G67">initiators</a> for some types of <a href="/facts/Polymerization/1hmBz7Ur">polymerization</a>, such as the <a href="/facts/Acrylic_resin/HWw12Se0">acrylic</a>, unsaturated polyester, and <a href="/facts/Vinyl_ester/2E5gsNjv">vinyl ester</a> <a href="/facts/Resin/r1uVThQ8">resins</a> used in <a href="/facts/Glass-reinforced_plastic/T6MtJ4ep">glass-reinforced plastics</a>. <a href="/facts/Methyl_ethyl_ketone_peroxide/RGHl0em5">MEKP</a> and <a href="/facts/Benzoyl_peroxide/8EowDfnH">benzoyl peroxide</a> are commonly used for this purpose. However, the same property also means that organic peroxides can explosively combust. Organic peroxides, like their inorganic counterparts, are often powerful <a href="/facts/Bleaching/QPxAysPl">bleaching</a> agents.
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Organic peroxides open-in-new

Organic peroxides