The absolute CF 2 concentration is measured in situ and in real time by UV absorption spectroscopy in the infrared multiphoton dissociation of CF 2 HCl during and after the laser pulse. The production rate of difluorocarbene is measured as a function of the laser intensity and the temperature at 9.17 μm. This rate increases with increasing infrared intensity and temperature for nearly the whole range of conditions applied. At the highest temperatures attained the CF 2 production rates start to decrease with increasing temperature.