The ultraviolet photochemistry of derivatives of triphenylmethane. Part I. Measurement of the rate constants in the photolysis of triphenylmethyl halides
Abstract
The ultraviolet photolysis of dilute solutions of Ph3C–X, (where X = H, F, Cl, Br, or l) in cyclohexane in the absence of oxygen has been investigated. The results can be explained by a mechanism which involves the triphenylmethyl free radical in an excited electronic state. This is formed by dissociation of triplet Ph3C–X, formed by intersystem crossing from the lowest excited singlet state. The rate constants for several of the primary photochemical processes involved have been measured and the effect of changing X is discussed.