Photodegradation of 3, 3′-Dichlorobenzidine

Abstract

3, 3′-Dichlorobenzidine (DCB) is very rapidly photodegraded in aqueous solution to give monochlorobenzidine (MCB), benzidine, and a number of brightly colored water-insoluble materials. Disappearance quantum yields for DCB and MCB are high, whereas that for benzidine is much lower. Transients are generated upon photolysis of DCB in acidic solutions or on treatment of DCB with chlorine water. The photolability of DCB is markedly lower in nonaqueous solvents, and the mechanism of dechlorination does not appear to involve simple carbon-chlorine bond homolysis. © 1978, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.