Degradation of halogenated carbon compounds.

摘要

Halogenated carbon compounds containing at least three halogen atoms and capable of undergoing bimolecular nucleophilic substitution are degraded by reaction in an aprotic solvent with a strong nucleophile selected from superoxide ion and hydroxide ion. The process is particularly applicable to compounds in which at least three halogen atoms are covalently joined to a tetrahedral carbon atom. In a specific embodiment, superoxide ion is electrolytically generated in an aprotic solvent containing a soluble organic electrolyte. In a further embodiment, the aprotic solvent is dimethyl sulfoxide, which, when converting carbon tetrahalide, forms dimethylsulfone and carbonate.