Cumene hydroperoxide is an organic peroxide that appears as a colorless to pale yellow or green liquid with a mild odor. It has a molecular weight of 152.21, a boiling point of 153℃, and a melting point of 2–10℃. It is explosive when heated and has a flash point of 79℃. Its explosive limits are 0.9% (LEL) to 6.5% (UEL). According to the NFPA-704 rating system, its hazard ratings are Health 1, Flammability 2, and Reactivity 4 (Oxidizer). It is slightly soluble in water.
Cumyl Hydroperoxide Chemical Properties
| Melting point | -30 °C |
| Boiling point | 100-101 °C/8 mmHg (lit.) |
| Density | 1.03 g/mL at 25 °C |
| Vapor density | 5.4 (vs air) |
| Vapor pressure | <0.03 mm Hg ( 20 °C) |
| Refractive index | n20/D 1.5230 |
| Fp | 192 °C |
| Storage temp | 2-8°C |
| Solubility | Chloroform (Soluble), Ethyl Acetate (Slightly), Methanol (Soluble) |
| Form | clear liquid |
| Pka | pK1:12.60 (25°C) |
| Color | Colorless to Almost colorless |
| PH | >5 (20°C, 13g/L in H2O) |
| Water Solubility | Slightly soluble |
| BRN | 1908117 |
| Exposure limits | No exposure limit is set. On the basis of its irritant properties, a ceiling limit of 2 mg/m3 (0.3 ppm) is recommended. |
| Stability | Stable. combustible. Strong oxidizer. Incompatible with a variety of organic materials, reacting vigorously or violently with acids, reducing agents, many metals, strong alkalies. Heat sensitive, decomposing explosively. |
| LogP | 1.6 at 25℃ |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 80-15-9(CAS DataBase Reference) |
| NIST Chemistry Reference | Hydroperoxide, 1-methyl-1-phenylethyl(80-15-9) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Cumene hydroperoxide (80-15-9) |
Safety Information
| Hazard Codes | O,T,N |
| Risk Statements | 7-21/22-23-34-48/20/22-51/53-66-65-10-37 |
| Safety Statements | 14-3/7-36/37/39-45-50-61-14A-26-62-47-7 |
| RIDADR | UN 3109 5.2 |
| WGK Germany | 3 |
| RTECS | MX2450000 |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HazardClass | 5.2 |
| PackingGroup | II |
| HS Code | 29096000 |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 80-15-9(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Cumene hydroperoxide is used in the preparation of polystyrene nanocapsules and acts as a curing agent for polyester resins. It functions as an oxidizer in organic chemical reactions and serves as an initiator for radical polymerization, particularly for acrylate and methacrylate monomers. It is also employed as an intermediate in the cumene process for producing phenol and acetone from benzene and propene, and as an epoxidation reagent for allylic alcohols and fatty acid esters. Additionally, it is used in the synthesis of methylstyrene, acetophenone, and cumyl alcohol.
