A laser flash photolysis/time-resolved FTIR emission study of a new channel in the reaction of methyl + oxygen atom: production of carbon monoxide(v)

The reaction of CH{sub 3} radicals and O atoms is studied using laser flash photolysis/time-resolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy. In addition to observing formaldehyde vibrational CH emission, molecular CO vibrational emission is also detected. Experiments are performed to confirm that CO is a primary product from the title reaction. The observed CO vibrational distribution ({nu} = 1-8) can be fit with a vibrational temperature of 12,700 {plus_minus} 1400 K, and the fraction of the reaction exothermicity released into CO vibration is 0.22. The branching fraction to CO is estimated to be 0.40 {plus_minus} 0.10. 43 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.