Photochemical Formation and Stability of the CF₂ Radical

Abstract

TEN years ago, Barrow and co-workers observed the ultra-violet absorption bands due to the CF₂ radical, produced during an electrical discharge through fluorocarbon vapour, and commented on its probable stability¹. Using high-intensity flash photolysis techniques, we have been able to photograph the transient formation and slow decay of the same absorption bands produced from some halogenated ketones. Under our experimental conditions, the strongest absorption bands can be detected as long as 20 msec. after the photolysis flash, confirming the great stability of CF₂ as compared with its analogue CH₂ (ref. 2).