Termination of peroxy radicals of 6-hexanelactam

The reaction of two N-alkylamide peroxy radicals produces two molecules of imide and one molecule of hydrogen peroxide; a reaction of this peroxyl with another radical also leads to two imide molecules. This reaction is in contrast to the currently cited Russell mechanism of peroxy radical termination in hydrocarbon oxidation producing alcohol, ketone and dioxygen, but is in accordance with the termination proposed by other authors, e.g. Lee and Mendenhall. It cannot be excluded that the termination of amide peroxyls takes a course different from that of hydrocarbon peroxyls, but an unequivocal proof of the validity of the Russell mechanism has not been found in the literature. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.