Reactions of F atoms and aromatic and heterocyclic molecules: Energy distribution in the reaction complex

Abstract

This paper reports studies of the reactions of fluorine atoms and several aromatic and heterocyclic molecules. As in earlier work we have used the method of crossed molecular beams to create long-lived reaction intermediates and to deduce from the angular distribution of the product molecules information about the energy distribution in the reaction complex. The data reported in this paper complement those collected earlier. They show that when a light group is emitted from a reaction complex randomization of the internal energy of the complex is not more rapid than reaction. When a heavy atom is emitted from the reaction complex the limited data available indicate that almost all vibrational degrees of freedom of the complex participate in the reaction. This latter observation provides an interesting connection between vibration-translation energy exchange and the mechanism of chemical reaction.