Photochemical reaction intermediates of benzyl chloride in condensed phase

Reaction intermediates produced upon the photolysis of benzyl chloride have been studied in glassy matrix and in solution, In the steady-state photoly sis both benzyl radicals and structural isomers of benzyl chloride were for med in ethanol, while in 3-methylpentane the structural isomers were predom inantly formed. The nanosecond laser photolyses of benzyl chloride in ethan ol and in cyclohexane also generated benzyl radicals and structural isomers at room temperature. In acetonitrile, in addition to these species, benzyl cations were observed in the early stage after the photolysis.