The Reactions of O(¹D) with Propane and Water Monomers and Clusters

Reactions of O( 1 D) with water and propane monomers and clusters were investigated via a crossed molecular beam experiment and by dissociation of ozone in a water‐ozone complex, applying laser‐induced fluorescence for the detection of the OH product. The rotational and spin‐orbit state populations were analyzed. A strong preference for the 2 Π 3/2 spin‐orbit state of the OH product is observed. The new results presented here demonstrate the effect of the initial rotational temperature of propane on the spin‐orbit states distribution in the product OH. The preference for the low 2 Π 3/2 state is attributed to conservation of electronic angular momentum. It is conserved through the curve crossing which occurs in the entrance channel and during the lifetime of the long‐lived collision complexes. A quantitative model is presented which rationalizes all the experimental observations.