Photoinduced degradation by iron(III): removal of triphenyltin chloride from water

The photoredox process taking place in iron(III) aquacomplexes was used to cause the complete degradation of triphenyltin (TPT). TPT elimination was proved to come only from attack by hydroxyl 21 radicals generated upon irradiation at 365 nm of Fe(H2O)(5)OH2+ the iron(III) species present under the experimental conditions ([Fe(III)] in the range (3-6) X 10(-4) mol l(-1)). The first step is the formation of an adduct between hydroxyl radicals and the benzene ring. The main process is a stepwise dephenylation of the starting TPT. Hydroxylated phenyltin derivatives were also formed, but only as minor photoproducts. The process was shown to be efficient with artificial light as well as with solar light. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.