PRODUCT CHANNEL DYNAMICS OF THE NCO+NO REACTION

The NCO + NO reaction was studied by time-resolved infrared diode laser spectroscopy. The CO2 + N2 channel was found to account for 56 +/- 7% of the total reaction rate, with N2O + CO accounting for the remaining 44 +/- 7%. These branching ratios were found to be independent of temperature in the range 296-623 K. Furthermore, the CN + O2 reaction at room temperature produces CO + NO products with a yield of 23 +/- 10% in addition to the NCO + O channel, with a significant negative temperature dependence. Product energy disposal studies were also performed. CO vibration and the nu3 mode of CO2 were found to account for only 0.55% and 3.4% of the available energy, respectively. These results are discussed in terms of statistical models and simple ab initio computations.