EFFECTS OF REAGENT ORBITAL ALIGNMENT ON PRODUCT VIBRATIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE CHEMILUMINESCENT REACTION CA(P-1(1))+CH3I

Experimental results of the reaction Ca(P-1(1)) + CH3I show that the r eagent orbital alignment of Ca(P-1(1)) can influence the product vibra tional distributions. In the A(2) Pi state of CaI product, the vibrati onal distribution is shifted from low to high levels as the alignment of the p orbital of Ca(P-1(1)) is changing from parallel to perpendicu lar, relative to the reagent average velocity, but this effect is oppo site in the B-2 Sigma State of CaI product. Theoretical analyses show that impact parameters are sensitive to both product vibrational distr ibutions and reagent orbital alignment effect on product electronic st ates. These relations are used to interpret the experimental results.