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Title: Experimental and theoretical investigation of the product channels of the O + CH{sub 3} reaction

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/402420· OSTI ID:402420
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Catholic Univ. of America, Washington, DC (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
  2. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)

The product channels of the O({sup 3}P)+CH{sub 3} reaction was investigated. In the experimental part, the branching fraction for formaldehyde production (O+CH{sub 3}{r_arrow}H{sub 2}CO+H) was measured at room temperature in a tubular flow reactor coupled to a photoionization mass spectrometer. The reactants (CH{sub 3} and O) were generated homogeneously in the reactor by simultaneous {ital in}{ital situ} 193-nm photolysis of acetone and SO{sub 2}. Formaldehyde yield relative to the methyl radicals consumed (branching fraction) was determined to be 1.0{+-}0.15. In the theoretical part, calculations of the energetics of possible decomposition pathways of the energy-rich methoxy radical initially formed in the O+CH{sub 3} reaction indicate that the dominant channel for decomposition is C-H bond cleavage leading to atomic hydrogen and formaldehyde. A possible, minor, secondary channel is hydrogen migration, followed by O-H bond cleavage, leading to the same final products. No energetically competitive pathways leading to H{sub 2}, HCO, HOC, or CO could be found.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG05-89ER14015; W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
402420
Report Number(s):
ANL/CHM/PP-83287; ON: DE97001020
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: May 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English