REACTIVE SCATTERING OF O(3P) + CF3I

The reaction of O(/sup 3/P) + CF/sub 3/I has been studied with an rf discharge, supersonic oxygen atom beam source in a crossed beam arrangement. At a collision energy of 2.2 kcal/mol, the reaction yields exclusively IO + CF/sub 3/ radical products. The angular and velocity distributions of the product show that the reaction involves complex formation with the intermediate living greater than or equal to one rotational period. Only a small fraction of the available energy is partitioned into product translation, in good agreement with a statistical model. The reaction is believed to remain confined to the triplet surface forming a CF/sub 3/-I-O complex. 12 references, 4 figures.