Stability and Infrared Spectra of Mono-, Di-, and Trichloromethanol

CH2ClOH, CHCl2OH, and CCl3OH were prepared by UV irradiation of CH3OH/Cl2/N2 gas mixtures. Absorption cross-sections (base e) of σ(CH2ClOH) at 1093 cm−1=6.16×10−19, σ(CHCl2OH) at 1109 cm−1=1.22×10−18, and σ(CCl3OH) at 1119 cm−1=8.96×10−19 cm2 molecule−1 were determined. The chlorinated methanols decayed with first-order kinetics to HCl and the corresponding carbonyl compound. The decay rates increased with increased contact of the chloromethanols with the reactor walls, indicating that decomposition is heterogeneous. An upper limit of 1.05×10−2 s−1 was established confirm this slow rate of homogeneous decomposition.