2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-diphenylbutane is a white to light yellow flakes, crystalline powder, it can be used in the following products: polymers.

Reactions and uses

The thermolysis of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-diphenylbutane (bicumene) at temperatures ranging from 220 to 310 °C is used to initiate the radical-mediated graft addition of vinyltriethoxysilane (VTEOS) to polyethylene. Model hydrocarbon studies indicate that the cumyl radicals generated by the slow decomposition of bicumene are capable of direct hydrogen atom abstraction at levels that are sufficient to sustain a graft propagation sequence of high kinetic chain length.

The interaction of O2 with cumyl radicals can lead to oxidation of the initiator and the hydrocarbon substrate, thereby enhancing the macroradical population and improving grafting rates and yields. In addition to providing remarkable kinetic chain lengths for VTEOS additions, high-temperature bicumene-based processes can induce HDPE and LDPE fragmentation such that the effects of radical combination on melt viscosity are counteracted. As a result, alkoxysilane-modified polymers that moisture-cure efficiently can be produced without incurring the undesirable increases in molecular weight that accompany conventional grafting processes.

Preparation

A method for producing 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-diphenylbutane is carried out by using cumene and an organic peroxide as starting materials and reacting them based on thermal decomposition of the organic peroxide. In this case, peroxymonocarbonate is used as the organic peroxide. As the peroxymonocarbonate, t-butyl peroxyalkyl monocarbonate (wherein the alkyl group has 3 to 8 carbon atoms) is preferable, and t-butylperoxyisopropyl monocarbonate is most preferable. The peroxymonocarbonate preferably has a one-hour half-life temperature of 105 to 125 ℃, and the temperature at which the peroxymonocarbonate is thermally decomposed is preferably 125 to 145 ℃.

Reference

[1]J. Scott Parent . “Mechanism and selectivity of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-diphenylbutane mediated addition of vinyltriethoxysilane to polyethylene.”European Polymer Journal 42 5 (2006): Pages 971-980.