The sub-picosecond dynamics of diphenylmethylchloride ion pairs and radical pairs

The dynamics for the photoinduced homolysis and heterolysis of diphenylmethylchloride in acetonitrile and cyclohexane are examined on the 100 fs time scale. In acetonitrile, the radical pair and the ion pair are formed in 345 and 833 fs, respectively. The radical pair is then observed to decay into the ion pair on the 15 ps time scale, a kinetic process which is found to be time-dependent. In cyclohexane, the radical pair and ion pair are formed within 230 fs, and the ion pair is observed to decay into the radical pair on the 5 ps time scale.