The thermal decomposition of CHClF2, CHF3, and CHCl3 has been studied behind incident and reflected shock waves. The unimolecular decomposition was observed to proceed via the α,α elimination reactions
in agreement with previous work. The progress of reaction was monitored via time resolved absorption spectrometry of CF2 at 253 nm (for (1) and (2)) and of the secondary reaction product C2Cl4 at 230 nm (for (3)). The pressure dependence of k1, k2, and k3 was investigated over a pressure range of a factor of ∼ 100. From the experiments in the fall off region, low and high pressure limiting rate constants (k0 and k∞) were obtained by application of a modified Kassel theory. For k∞, the Arrhenius expressions
were deduced. Excellent agreement with previous work is achieved for k1∞ and k2∞, provided that fall off is properly taken into account.