Photodissociation dynamics of the ethoxy radical investigated by photofragment coincidence imaging.
The photodissociation dynamics of the ethoxy radical (CH3CH2O) have been studied at energies from 5.17 to 5.96 eV using photofragment coincidence imaging. The upper state of the electronic transition excited at these energies is assigned to the C2A''state on the basis of electronic structure calculations. Fragment mass distributions show two photodissociation channels, OH + C2H4 and CH3 + CH2O. The presence of an additional photodissociation channel, identified as D + C2D4O, is revealed in time-of-flight distributions from the photodissociation of CD3CD2O. The product branching ratios and fragment translational energy distributions for all of the observed mass channels are nonstatistical. Moreover, the significant yield of OH + C2H4 product suggests that the mechanism for this channel involves isomerization on the excited-state surface. Photodissociation at a much lower yield is seen following excitation at 3.91 eV, corresponding to a vibronic band of the B2A' <-- X2A'' transition.
Faulhaber
Ann Elise
AE
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Szpunar
David E
DE
Kautzman
Kathryn E
KE
Neumark
Daniel M
DM