Photodissociation of isomeric dichloroethylenes in the ultraviolet: Effect of the second chlorine atom substitution on the dynamics

The Cl∗ production dynamics in the near-UV dissociation of all the three isomers (cis-, gem-, and trans-) of dichloroethylene in the gas phase has been probed in the wavelength range 222-304 nm by detecting nascent Cl(2P3/2) and Cl∗(2P1/2) atoms using resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) technique. Substantial amounts of Cl∗ are produced at all dissociation wavelengths and the Cl∗ yield is higher at 304 nm than at 222 nm for all the compounds. The dynamics of Cl∗ production is complex since both direct and indirect pathways are operative in all these molecules.