CROSSED MOLECULAR-BEAM STUDY OF THE REACTION O(P-3)+ALLENE

The reaction between ground state (P-3) oxygen atoms and allene was st udied under single collision conditions using the crossed molecular be ams method. Product angular distributions and the translational energy distribution were determined for each channel. Two major reaction cha nnels could be identified unambiguously: the formation of carbon monox ide and ethylene following oxygen atom attack on the central carbon at om, and the formation of allenyloxy (formyl-vinyl) radical and hydroge n atom following oxygen atom attack on the terminal carbon atom. In ad dition, at least one other reaction channel, which could be identified as the production of vinyl and formyl radicals, occurs. This channel involves the decomposition of acrolein which is formed by the addition of oxygen to the terminal carbon atom, followed by 1,2-hydrogen migra tion.