The hydrolysis of chloroform and carbon tetrachloride by anion-exchange resins

Abstract

Chloroform in acetone or ethanol solvent was rapidly hydrolysed to carbon monoxide and formate by Amberlite XE-78 in the OH-form. Hydroxyl sites on the resin were converted into chloride. The apparent loss in capacity of the resin which occurs during the reaction cannot be wholly accounted for by production of formate. The most probable explanation for the phenomenon is the adsorption of carbon trichloride anions at resin sites. Carbon tetrachloride in ketonic solvents also gave carbon monoxide and formate in the presence of the OH-form of the resin, but in alcohol or ether solvent carbon dioxide and phosgene were formed.