Photochemistry of C-nitroso-compounds. Part 6. Quantum yields for the solution-phase photolysis of some geminal chloro-nitroso-compounds

Abstract

The quantum yields for photolysis at 580–680 nm of the geminal chloro-nitroso-compounds (1)–(4) have been determined and were found to depend on the structure of the substrate, the viscosity and type of solvent, and the presence of oxygen but to be wavelength independent. The effects observed are explained with an efficient initial C–NO bond homolysis producing α-chloroalkyl radicals and nitric oxide in the primary step. The variation of the relative extent of competing recombination and radical scavenging reactions is found to be the major factor dominating the observed overall quantum yields.