The excitation of nitrate ions in the presence of monochlorophenol leads mainly to the formation of chlorodihydroxybenzenes. The hydroxylation occurs in ortho or para position with respect to hydroxy function. The reaction is attributed to an electrophilic reaction of hydroxyl radicals formed in the photolysis of nitrate ions. No chloronitrophenol was detected whereas, in the same conditions, nitrophenols can be formed from phenol. This phenomenon is related to the electron-attractive character of chlorine which unfavours the reactions with nitrogen oxides. A minor formation of hydroquinone from 2-chloro- and 3-chlorophenol is attributed to the phototransformation of chlorohydroquinone formed in the first stage of the reaction.