Comparison of the dehalogenation of polyhalomethanes and production of strong acids in aqueous and salt (NaCl) water environments: Ultraviolet photolysis of CH 2I 2

Abstract

The ultraviolet photolysis of CH 2I 2 was studied in water and salt water solutions using photochemistry and picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman spectroscopy. Photolysis in both types of environments produces mainly CH 2(OH) 2 and HI products. However, photolysis of CH 2I 2 in salt water leads to the formation of different products/intermediates (CH 2ICl and Cl 2 -) not observed in the absence of salt in aqueous solutions. The amount of CH 2(OH) 2 and HI products appears to decrease after photolysis of CH 2I 2 in salt water compared to pure water. We briefly discuss possible implications of these results for photolysis of CH 2I 2 and other polyhalomethanes in sea water and other salt aqueous environments compared to nonsalt water solvated environments. © 2004 American Institute of Physics.