Transformations of Dichloromethane Radicals in Alkaline Water Solutions

Among transformation products of HCl₂ and H₂Cl radicals generated by -irradiation of deaerated water solutions of dichloromethane oxygen-containing compounds (formic acid, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide) and chloride ions were found. The radicals CHCl₂ suffer nucleophilic substitution by hydroxyl ions affording anion-radicals HCOO^{- 2} that further transform into formic acid. At the growing concentration of alkali the frequency of chlorine substitution with hydroxyl ions in the dichloromethane radicals increases, and their transformation process becomes a chain reaction.