Laser-Induced Fluorescence Study on Reactions of C⁺(²P) and C(¹D,¹S) With Alcohols Leading to CH(X²Π) Radicals at Thermal Energy

Abstract

Thermal energy reactions of C⁺(²P) and C(¹D,¹S) with CH₃OH, C₂H₅OH, n-C₃H₇OH and i-C₃H₇OH to give CH(X²Π) radicals have been investigated by observing laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of CH(A—X) in a flowing afterglow. In the hydride ion abstraction by C⁺(²P), only CH₃OH exhibited the CH(A—X) LIF spectrum with a vibrational distribution of 1.0 : 0.62 for v″ = 0 and 1, respectively. On the other hand, the CH(A—X) LIF spectra exclusively from v″ = 0 were observed in the reactions of C(¹D,¹S) with all alcohols studied. By isotopic substitution for CH₃OH it was shown that the CH(X) radicals arise from the selective attack on the methyl site in the reactions of C⁺(²P) and C(¹D,¹S) with methanol.