Ultraviolet photodissociation dynamics of trichloroethylene at 235 nm

The photodissociation dynamics of trichloroethylene was investigated near 235 nm, (π,π*) transition, by detecting the nascent products, Cl (2P3/2) and Cl* (2P1/2), via 2 + 1 resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization. The photofragment speed distribution, the recoil anisotropy parameter β and the spin–orbit branching ratio for chlorine atom elimination channels were determined from time of flight profiles in polarization experiments. Based on the dynamical information, the features of potential energy surface along the reaction coordinate were discussed.