Photocatalytic degradation of chloroform by bis (bipyridine)dichlororuthenium(III/II)

Broadband (λ > 320 nm) irradiation of chloroform solutions of either [Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂] or [Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂]Cl exposed to air led to a photostationary state, in which [Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂]⁺ predominated, and to the continuous decomposition of CHCl₃, as evidenced by the accumulation of HCl, hydroperoxides (CCl₃OOH and CHCl₂OOH), and tetra-, penta-, and hexachloroethane. The addition of Cl^? increased the rate of photodecomposition, while the replacement of Cl^? by F^? greatly decreased the rate. The observations are consistent with a photocatalytic cycle in which [Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂]⁺ is photochemically reduced to [Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂], which is thermally reoxidized by CCl₃OO or CCl₃OOH. In the absence of air a much slower photodecomposition reaction takes place leading to continuously increasing concentrations of chloroethanes. The data are consistent with a catalytic cycle in which [Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂]⁺ is photoreduced, as in aerated solutions, while [Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂] is photooxidized with chloroform as the substrate.