Product branching fractions for the reaction of O(3P) atoms with methanol and ethanol

Abstraction rate coefficients and branching ratios are reported for the reactions of oxygen atoms with methanol at 775 K and ethanol (650–860 K) using laser flash photolysis to generate O atoms and monitoring OH(D) production by laser induced fluorescence. For methanol and d3 methanol abstraction from the methyl group (0.92 ± 0.05) dominates the reaction. Prompt photolytic generation of OH required the use of selectively deuterated isotopomers of ethanol to determine the branching ratios. Abstraction from the α (CH2) position accounts for approximately 75% of the reaction over the measured temperature range.