Photoinduced Oxidation Reaction of Benzotrifluoride with OH Radical by the Laser Flash Method

The optical transient and kinetics characterizations of the transients formed in the reaction of OH with benzotrifluoride (BTF) were performed by a laser flash photolysis technique. The results indicated that the formation of π‐type adduct of C₆H₅(OH)CF₃ was the major reaction channel, and the δ‐type adduct of C₆H₅CF₃OH formation was an additional minor process in the oxidation reaction of BTF attacked by OH radicals yielded from the photolysis of H₂O₂. Addition of OH to the CF₃ group led to the fluoride ion elimination to yield α,α‐difluorophenylcarbinol (C₆H₅CF₂OH). Trifluoromethylphenol (HOC₆H₄CF₃) of meta‐, para‐ and ortho‐substituted isomers resulted from the addition of OH to the BTF aromatic ring.