Peroxides are often added to free-radical reactions as initiators because the oxygen-oxygen bond cleaves homo-lytically rather easily.

Question:

Peroxides are often added to free-radical reactions as initiators because the oxygen-oxygen bond cleaves homo-lytically rather easily. For example, the bond-dissociation enthalpy of the O-O bond in hydrogen peroxide is only 213 kJ mol (51 kcal / mol) give a mechanism for the hydrogen peroxide-initiated reaction of cyclo-pentane with chlorine. The BDE for HO-Cl is 210 kJ / mol (50 kcal / mol)