Nascent OH (X-2 Pi) product state distributions from the reaction of O(D-1) with ethylene. A laser-induced fluorescence study

The full characterization of the OH(X(2)Pi, v" = 0-3, N", J", Lambda") prod uct state distributions for the O(D-1) + C2H4 --> OH + C2H3 reaction was ex perimentally performed using the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique . Statistical spin-orbit distributions were obtained, while some preference for the formation of the Pi (A') A-doublet level was observed. The rovibra tional populations obtained suggest that the reaction preferentially evolve s via insertion, yielding rovibrationally cold OH through slow decompositio n of an alcohol-type collision complex and rovibrationally excited OH by fa st decomposition. Moreover, some evidences were found about the implication of an abstraction mechanism, which would produce rotationally cold and hig hly vibrationally excited OH. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.