O(3P) versus O(1D) reaction dynamics with n-pentane: a crossed-beam imaging study

We present crossed-beam scattering results for reaction of ground state O(3P) and electronically excited O(1D) with n-pentane at a collision energy of 13 kcal/mol. The results were obtained using velocity map imaging with 157 nm single-photon ionization of the products. Using this probe, the only reaction channel observed was that producing the hydrocarbon radical and OH. The results show dramatically contrasting dynamics, with backward-sideways scattering dominating the ground state triplet reaction and isotropic/forward scattering for the singlet reaction.