The explosion hazards associated with thermal decomposition of common solvents or their potential to form peroxides have been present in the literature since the 1950s. However, most of the potential explosion hazards are still underappreciated and inadequately communicated, as numerous severe accidents have occurred on both laboratory and manufacturing scale over the years. The presence of certain commonly employed reagents such as acids, bases, halides, metals, electrophiles, oxidants, and reductants on polar aprotic solvents like DMSO can lead to accelerated decomposition and/or cause autocatalytic behaviors, compromising the safety of the reaction and the lab personnel. Another commonly employed solvent, considered rather ‘green’ in large scale operations, is 2-propanol (IPA). Yet awareness around its classification as a Group B peroxide-forming solvent is usually lacking in both academic and industrial settings. This talk will discuss some of the latest research findings on the potential safety hazards related to DMSO decomposition along with peroxide formation in IPA to alert researchers about the need to mitigate these risks in the lab.

Making experimental work in the process chemistry lab safer: A look at commonly employed and potentially explosive reaction conditions

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ACS Spring 2023

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