The direct production of CO(v=1-9) in the reaction of O(P-3) with the ethyl radical

A new product channel that yields vibrationally excited CO(v=1-9) in the re action of the ethyl radical with O(P-3) is experimentally observed by time- resolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy. The branching ra tios for the different vibrational states are estimated to be 0.21 +/- 0.06 , 0.27 +/- 0.03, 0.14 +/- 0.02, 0.08 +/- 0.02, 0.07 +/- 0.02, 0.07 +/- 0.02 , 0.06 +/- 0.02, 0.05 +/- 0.02, and 0.05 +/- 0.02 for v=1-9, respectively. Previously, only the CH3+H2CO, CH3CHO+H, and C2H4+OH channels were known. K inetics tests are provided to verify that the CO is produced directly in th e reaction and not from secondary chemistry. The two possible new product c hannels are CO+CH4+H and CO+CH3+H-2. The implications of this previously un explored reaction channel for combustion chemistry and the possible mechani sms for this reaction are discussed. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics . [S0021-9606(00)00935-1].