Autoionization reaction of phosgene (OCCl2) studied by electron paramagnetic resonance/spin trapping techniques.

The reaction of phosgene with nitrone spin traps was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/spin trapping techniques. Evidence for the intermediacy of a carbamoyl 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.