Photochemical behaviour of 1,4-dichlorobenzene in aqueous solution

Abstract

Several photoproducts were identified in the direct photolysis of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) in air-saturated aqueous solution, namely 4-chlorophenol, hydroquinone, hydroxybenzoquinone, and 2,5-dichlorophenol. In the absence of oxygen the latter is not formed and phenol was detected, but the unexpected formations of 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl, 2,4',5-trichlorobiphenyl, and a terphenyl derivative are observed. Mechanisms are proposed to explain the formations of identified photoproducts. The phototransformation of 1,4-DCB may be photoinduced by NO–3 or FeIII salts. The main primary product is 2,5-dichlorophenol, which results from a hydroxylation without dechlorination. Some other products have been identified in particular 4-chlorophenol and 2,5-dichlorobenzoquinone in the case of FeIII salts.Key words: 1,4-dichlorobenzene, photolysis, aqueous solution, induced phototransformation.