OXIDATION OF N,N-DIMETHYLANILINE: I.THE REACTION WITH BENZOYL PEROXIDE

Abstract
The reaction of N,N-dimethylaniline (A) with benzoyl peroxide (P) has been shown to exhibit complex kinetics. The observed rates of peroxide decomposition between 0° and 25 °C could be described by the relation −d[P]/dt = ka[A][P]+kb[A]1/2[P]3/2. An unstable Würster salt of tetramethylbenzidine was shown to be one of the main products of the reaction, and a mechanism has been postulated which is consistent with the observed kinetics, involving tetramethylbenzidine as a reaction intermediate.