Crossed-beam dynamics studies of the radical–radical combustion reaction O(3P) + CH3 (methyl)

The dynamics of the radical–radical reaction O(3P) + CH3, a prototypical case for the reactions of atomic oxygen with alkyl radicals of great relevance in combustion chemistry, has been investigated by means of the crossed molecular beam technique with mass spectrometric detection at a collision energy of 55.9 kJ mol−1. The results have been examined in the light of previous kinetic and theoretical work. From product angular and velocity distribution measurements, the dynamics of the predominant H-displacement channel leading to formaldehyde formation has been characterized. This channel has been found to proceed via the formation of an osculating complex; a significant coupling between the product centre-of-mass angular and translational energy distributions has been noted. Experimental attempts to characterize the dynamics of the channel leading to HCO + H2 have failed and it remains unclear whether HCO is formed by the reaction and/or, if formed, a part of HCO does not dissociate quickly into CO + H.