Editing Diethyl ether peroxide (section)

==Synthesis and reactions==
Diethyl ether hydroperoxide can be formed by the [[photooxygenation]] of diethyl ether. This is a radical process, driven by UV excitation of molecular oxygen into a more reactive form. Its formation is usually undesirable due to the associated risk of explosion. For this reason commercial samples of diethyl ether will usually contain [[antioxidant]]s such as [[Butylated hydroxytoluene|BHT]] and be contained in a material able to block UV rays, such as amber glass.

:[[File:Ether-autoxidation.png|400px]]

It can be intentionally prepared in high yield by the acid-catalyzed addition of [[hydrogen peroxide]] to [[ethyl vinyl ether]]:<ref name=jacs/>
:C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OCH=CH<sub>2</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> → C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OCH(OOH)CH<sub>3</sub>
Related hydroperoxides can be produced similarly.

Diethyl ether hydroperoxide, upon heating in water, decomposes to [[acetaldehyde]]:
:C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OCH(OOH)CH<sub>3</sub> → CH<sub>3</sub>CHO + C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH + H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>

Diethyl ether hydroperoxide forms polymers known as '''diethyl ether peroxide''', or '''ethylidene peroxide''':

[[Image:Diethylether peroxide.png|Formation of diethyl ether peroxide]]

The peroxide is a colorless oil that is an extremely [[Brisance|brisant]] and [[friction]] sensitive [[explosive material]], however the polymeric materials are solid making them more dangerous as evaporation of the volatile diethyl ether can leave thin films of pure explosive.