3-chlorophenol elimination upon excitation of dilute iron(III) solution: evidence for the only involvement of Fe(OH)2+

The transformation of 3-chlorophenol (3CP) photoinduced by iron(III) in aqueous solution has been investigated under monochromatic irradiation (λexc=365 nm) representative of atmospheric solar emission. Hydroxyl radicals are formed via an intramolecular photoredox process in iron(III) excited hydroxy-complexes. Fe(OH)2+ is the most active complex in terms of HO• formation and according to our experiments and calculations, it appears that Fe(OH)2+ is the only iron(III) species involved in 3CP oxidation process. Hydroxyl radicals react very rapidly with 3CP, which is eliminated from the solution. The primary intermediates do not accumulate in the medium but rapidly degraded to non-absorbing compounds by a subsequent action of hydroxyl radicals.