a-Hydroperoxyalkyl diazenes (Me2C(OOH)N=NR, 1, R = CH2CF3, CH2CH20Me, CH(Me)2, CMe3, CH2Ph, Ph, CH2CH20Ph, and c-C3HSCD2) decompose in benzene, at 50°C or less, by a mechanism involving free radical (Re) intermediates. The radicals were trapped with 1-methyl-4-nitroso-3,5-diphenylpyrazole, 2, to afford spin adducts (nitroxyls) that were observed by ESR spectroscopy. When the solvent was ethyl vinyl ether, radicals from 1 (R = CH2CH20Ph) were trapped by the solvent and the adduct radicals so formed were spin trapped by 2. These observations support free radical mechanisms for thermolysis of 1 and for the hydroxyalkylations that occur when 1 are decomposed in solutions containing en01 ethers or other unsaturated substrates. The ring-opening of cyclopropylmethyl radicals (cpm) to 3-butenyl radicals was used to estimate the rate constant for radical trapping by 2. For cpm the rate constant is given by log kcPm = (10.7 =t 0.4) -(3.9 =t 0.5)/9 where 9 = 2.3 RT kcal mol-'. At 25"C, the spin trapping rate constant has the value 6.9 x lo7 M-' s-l. Les a-hydropCroxyalkyldiazbnes (Me2C(OOH)N=NR, 1, R = CH2CF3, CH2CH20Me, CH(Me)2, CMe3, CH2Ph, Ph, CH2CH20Ph et c-C3HSCD2) se dCcomposent dans le benzbne B une tempCrature Cgale ou infkrieure B 50°C selon un mkcanisme impliquant des radicaux libres (Re) intermediaires. On a piCgC les radicaux libres avec le rnCthyl-1-nitroso-4-diphCnyl-3,5-pyrazole, 2, pour obtenir des adduits de spin (nitroxyles) que l'on a observis par spectroscopie de ESR. L'tther ethylvinylique utilisC comme solvant piege les radicaux provenant du composC 1 (R = CH2CH20Ph) et les adduits radicalaires ainsi formCs sont captCs par le composC 2. Ces observations tendent ti prouver que la thermolyse du compost 1 et l'hydroxyalkylation, qui se produit lorsque le compost 1 se dCcompose dans des solutions contenant des Cthers Cnoliques ou d'autres substrats insaturis, impliquent un mecanisme radicalaire. On s'est bas6 sur l'ouverture du cycle des radicaux cyclopropylmtthyles (cpm) qui conduit aux radicaux butCnyl-3 pour Cvaluer la constante de vitesse de la capture des radicaux par le compost 2. Pour le cpm, la constante de vitesse est donnCe par la rklation : log kcpm = (10,7 =t 0,4) -(3,9 =t 0,5)/9 ou 9 = 2,3 RT kcal mol-I. On Cvalue la constante de capture de spin B 6,9 x lo7 M-I s-' 2 25°C.