Stability and infrared spectra of mono-, di-, and trichloromethanol

CH2ClOH, CHCl2OH, and CCl3OH were prepared by UV irradiation of CH3OH/Cl-2/ N-2 gas miutures. Absorption cross-sections (base e) of sigma(CH2ClOH) at 1 093 cm(-1) = 6.16 X 10(-19, sigma)(CHCl2OH) at 1109 cm(-1) = 1.22 X 10(-18) , and sigma(CCl3OH) at 1119 cm(-1) = 8.96 X 10(-19) cm(2) molecule(-1) were determined. The chlorinated methanols decayed with first-order kinetics to HCl and the corresponding carbonyl compound. The decay rates increased wit h increased contact of the chloromethanols with the reactor walls, indicati ng that decomposition is heterogeneous. An upper limit of 1.05 x 10(-2) s(- 1) was established confirm this slow rate of homogeneous decomposition. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.