Abstract: A CO.sub.2 laser is used to irradiate a laser cell containing gaseous BCl.sub.3 + H.sub.2 at room temperature (25.degree. C) to produce B.sub.2 H.sub.6. The product is sufficiently stable (no loss of concentration over a period of 72 hours) to permit separating B.sub.2 H.sub.6 and recycling the remaining BCl.sub.3 to obtain high efficiency production of B.sub.2 H.sub.6.

Abstract: Phosgene, COCl.sub.2, an impurity in BCl.sub.3 is dissociated by CO.sub.2 ser radiation that is passed through a stainless steel laser cell with NaCl windows on each end of the cell. The power level of a cw CO.sub.2 multiline laser can be varied to accomplish the irradiation to effectively dissociate the COCl.sub.2 into its dissociation products, substantially CO and Cl.sub.2. The BCl.sub.3, .nu..sub.3 (956 cm.sup.-1) fundamental is resonant with CO.sub.2 (P.sub.20) laser line and strongly absorbs this energy which is followed by an intramolecular V--V transfer of energy to the COCl.sub.2 which results in its dissociation. The gaseous compound C.sub.2 H.sub.4 having combination bands and overtones that match reasonably close to the energy levels of COCl.sub.2 can also serve as a diluent for COCl.sub.2 to effect transfer of energy for dissociation of COCl.sub.2 by cw CO.sub.2 laser radiation.