Preparation of di-t-alkyl peroxides and t-alkyl hydroperoxides from n-alkyl t-alkyl ethers

A process for production of a t-alkyl peroxide compound includes the steps of:a) reacting an n-alkyl t-alkyl ether with a reactant mixture comprising an acid catalyst and a compound of the formula where R is H or t-alkyl, provided that if R is t-alkyl the t-alkyl peroxide compound product is a di-t-alkyl peroxide,andb) isolating a reaction product comprising said t-alkyl peroxide compound from the mixture resulting from step a).The process can be used to prepare t-butyl hydroperoxide or di-t-butyl peroxide from methyl t-butyl ether. Sulfuric acid may be used as the acid catalyst.