Autoionization reaction of phosgene (OCC12) studied by electron paramagnetic resonance/spin trapping techniques

The reaction of phosgene with ni-trone spin traps was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/spin trapping techniques. Evidence for the intermediacy of a carba-moyl monochloride intermediate was obtained. Isotopic substitution of ¹³C-phosgene was employed to verify the hyperfine coupling constant assignments. The implications of these observations on pulmonary damage caused by inhalation of phosgene are mentioned.