Enthalpies of Formation and Bond Dissociation Energies of Lower Alkyl Hydroperoxides and Related Hydroperoxy and Alkoxy Radicals

The enthalpies of formation and bond dissociation energies, D(ROO-H), D(RO-OH), D(RO-O), D(R-O 2) and D(R-OOH) of alkyl hydroperoxides, ROOH, alkyl peroxy, RO, and alkoxide radicals, RO, have been computed at CBS-QB3 and APNO levels of theory via isodesmic and atomization procedures for R = methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and isopropyl and n-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl and sec-butyl. We show that D(ROO-H) approximately 357, D(RO-OH) approximately 190 and D(RO-O) approximately 263 kJ mol (-1) for all R, whereas both D(R-OO) and D(R-OOH) strengthen with increasing methyl substitution at the alpha-carbon but remain constant with increasing carbon chain length. We recommend a new set of group additivity contributions for the estimation of enthalpies of formation and bond energies.