Mechanism of photodegradation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins in carbon tetrachloride

Photolysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) in carbon tetrachloride with UV light produces the corresponding chlorobenzenes. C---O bond rather than C---Cl bond cleavage is found to be a major pathway for photodegradation of PCDDs. Chlorination reactions take place during the photolysis process.