Peroxy acid

Most commonly, peracids are generated by treating the corresponding carboxylic acid with hydrogen peroxide:[6] A related reaction involves treatment of the carboxylic anhydride: This method is popular for converting cyclic anhydrides to the corresponding monoperoxyacids, for example monoperoxyphthalic acid.

The most common use of organic peroxy acids is for the conversion of alkenes to epoxides, the Prilezhaev reaction.

Another common reaction is conversion of cyclic ketones to the ring-expanded esters using peracids in a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation.

Compared to hydrogen peroxide, peroxycarboxylic acids are approved as cosmetics in Europe under Regulation (EC) No.

[10] In healthcare, peroxycarboxylic acids are primarily used for wound disinfection and cleaning contact lenses.

Peroxycarboxylic acids are also found in cleaning agents, disinfectants, and detergents, as they reliably kill germs and bacteria.

General formulas of an organic peroxy acid (top) compared with a carboxylic acid (bottom).
m -chlorobenzoyl chloride + hydrogen peroxide → m -chloroperoxybenzoic acid
Formation of an epoxide from an alkene and a peroxycarboxylic acid.