Chlorochromate ion as a catalyst for the photodegradation of chloroform by visible light.

Exposure of solutions of tetrabutylammonium chlorochromate in chloroform to UV or blue light causes decomposition of the chloroform and the buildup of HCl and peroxides in solution. The CrO(3)Cl(-) is converted during irradiation to CrO(2)Cl(2), which forms a suspension in the chloroform, and then to CrOCl(4)(-). CrO(2)Cl(2) does not by itself catalyze photodecomposition.