The electronic state-selective photodissociation of CH2BrI at 248, 210, and 193 nm

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Abstract
The primary photodissociation channels of CH2BrI following excitation at 193.3, 210, and 248.5 nm have been studied with the crossed laser‐molecular beam technique. Product translational energy distributions and polarization dependences were derived for the primary dissociation processes observed. The data demonstrate bond selective photochemistry as well as some selective formation of electronically excited photofragments in bond fission and concerted dissociation. Excitation at 248.5 nm, which is assigned to excitation of primarily a n(I)→σ*(C–I) transition with some contribution from an overlapping n(Br)→σ*(C–Br) transition, results in both C–I and C–Br bond fission. C–I bond fission is the dominant channel, producing I atoms in both the 2P3/2 and spin‐orbit excited 2P1/2 states in a ratio of 1.0:0.75. Excitation at 193.3 nm, assigned to a transition to primarily predissociated Rydberg levels on the I atom, leads to C–Br bond fission, some C–I bond fission, and significant concerted elimination of IBr. Analysis of the product translational energy distributions for the dissociation products indicates that the IBr is formed electronically excited and that the halogen atom products are spin‐orbit excited. Excitation at 210 nm, of the transition assigned as n(Br)→σ*(C–Br) based on comparison with CH3Br, results in selective breaking of the stronger C–X bond in the molecule, the C–Br bond, and no fission of the C–I bond. Some concerted elimination of IBr also occurs; the IBr velocity distribution indicates it is probably formed electronically excited as in photolysis at 193.3 nm. The selective breaking of the C–Br bond over the weaker C–I bond is discussed in contrast to previous photolysis studies of polyhalomethanes.