Dissociative recombination of C3H4+:: preferential fonnation of the C3H3 radical

Branching ratios and absolute cross sections have been measured for the dissociative recombination of C3H4+ using the CRYRING ion storage ring. The pre-eminent channel involves the production of C3H3 and H, whereas processes involving rupture of carbon-carbon bonds are clearly disfavoured. The cross section of the reaction could be fitted to the expression sigma = 5.5 +/- 0.2 x 10(-15) E-1.01+/-0.02, which leads to a thermal reaction rate of k(T) = 2.95 +/- 0.1 x 10(-6) (T/300)(-0.67+/-0.02) cm(3) s(-1). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.