CW-CO2 laser-induced and SF6-sensitized decomposition of trifluoroacetic acid

Abstract

CW-CO2 laser-induced and SF6-sensitized decomposition of trifluoroacetic acid affords reaction products different from those yielded by a conventional heating and offers a new way for decomposition of this compound. The kinetics of the laser-induced reaction is also different, being of a second order and of a first order in SF6. The reaction scheme proposed for the laser-induced process shows .CF2CO2. biradical to be mainly decomposed to carbon monoxide and carbonyl fluoride and implies that the fate of this species during conventional thermal decomposition is controlled by heterogeneous surface reaction.