tert-Butyl hydroperoxide

Industrially, tert-butyl hydroperoxide is used to prepare propylene oxide.

In the Halcon process, molybdenum-based catalysts are used for this reaction: The byproduct t-butanol can be dehydrated to isobutene and converted to MTBE.

On a much smaller scale, tert-butyl hydroperoxide is used to produce some fine chemicals by the Sharpless epoxidation.

[3] tert-butyl hydroperoxide is potentially dangerous, but explosions are rare.

[3] A solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and water with a concentration of greater than 90% is forbidden to be shipped according to US Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Table 49 CFR 172.101.

Skeletal formula of tert-butyl hydroperoxide
Ball-and-stick model of the tert-butyl hydroperoxide molecule
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gas Flammability 4: Will rapidly or completely vaporize at normal atmospheric pressure and temperature, or is readily dispersed in air and will burn readily. Flash point below 23 °C (73 °F). E.g. propane Instability 4: Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition at normal temperatures and pressures. E.g. nitroglycerin Special hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g. potassium perchlorate