THE REACTIONS OF O(D(1)) WITH PROPANE AND WATER MONOMERS AND CLUSTERS

Reactions of O(1D) with water and propane monomers and clusters were i nvestigated via a crossed molecular beam experiment and by dissociatio n of ozone in a water-ozone complex, applying laser-induced fluorescen ce for the detection of the OH product. The rotational and spin-orbit state populations were analyzed. A strong preference for the 2PI3/2 sp in-orbit state of the OH product is observed. The new results presente d here demonstrate the effect of the initial rotational temperature of propane on the spin-orbit states distribution in the product OH. The preference for the low 2PI3/2 state is attributed to conservation of e lectronic angular momentum. It is conserved through the curve crossing which occurs in the entrance channel and during the lifetime of the l ong-lived collision complexes. A quantitative model is presented which rationalizes all the experimental observations.