Transient resonance Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory investigation of iso-CHBr2Cl and iso-CCl3Br photoproducts produced following ultraviolet excitation of CHBr2Cl and CCl3Br

We report transient resonance Raman spectra and density functional theory calculations for the photoproducts produced after ultraviolet excitation of CHBr2Cl and CCl3Br in cyclohexane solution. Comparison of the computed vibrational frequencies to the experimental Raman frequencies revealed that the iso-CHBrCl-Br and iso-CHClBr-Br species are mainly responsible for the transient resonance Raman spectrum observed following ultraviolet excitation of CHBr2Cl. Similar comparisons for CCl3Br showed the iso-CCl2Cl-Br species is mainly responsible for the transient resonance Raman spectrum observed following ultraviolet excitation of CCl3Br. Additional density functional theory computations were done to examine the chemical reactions of iso-CH2Br-Cl and iso-CH2Cl-Br with ethylene to give cyclopropane and Br-Cl product. We briefly discuss the possibility for release of reactive halogens into the atmosphere via the photochemical and chemical reactions of iso-polyhalomethane molecules formed after ultraviolet excitation of polyhalomethanes in condensed phase environments. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.