A nanosecond laser flash photolysis study of aqueous 4-chlorophenol

Abstract

The mechanism of the aqueous photoreaction of 4-chlorophenol was studied by nanosecond laser flash photolysis. The carbene 4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene is formed from the chlorophenol by loss of HCl. This species reacts efficiently with oxygen to form 1,4-benzoquinone-O-oxide which subsequently yields 1,4-benzoquinone. The carbene also undergoes reaction with water and coupling reactions to produce 1,4-hydroquinone and polyhydroxybiphenyls respectively.