ABSTRACT
Aldehydes are oxidized very rapidly at moderate temperatures including room temperature.
This is the result of the common action of the following three factors:
1. Chain propagation in an oxidized aldehyde is limited by the reaction of the acylperoxyl
radical with the aldehyde. The dissociation energy of the OH bond of the formed peracid is sufficiently higher than that of the alkyl hydroperoxide. For example,
in hydroperoxide PhMeCHOOH, DOH¼ 365.5 kJ mol1 and in benzoic peracid PhC(O)OOH, DOH¼ 403.9 kJ mol1 [1]. Therefore, acylperoxyl radicals are more active in chain propagation reactions compared to alkylperoxyl radicals.
