Theoretical Study of the Pair-Correlated F + CHD3(v = 0,ν1 = 1) Reaction: Effect of CH Stretching Vibrational Excitation.

The F + CHD3(v) reaction is a benchmark system in polyatomic reactions. Theoretical/experimental comparisons have been reported in recent years that present some controversies, specifically the role of the reactant CH stretching vibrational excitation, CHD3(ν1 = 1), on the reactivity of both isotope channels, DF(v) + CHD2(v') and HF(v) + CD3(v'). However, in many cases, these comparisons are not made on an equal footing. Previous theoretical studies were concerned with overall reactivity of each isotope channel, while fine velocity map imaging experiments provided results in a product pair-correlated manner. In order to shed some light on these controversies, we perform here a pair-correlated theory/experiment comparison for the title reaction, using quasi-classical trajectory calculations on a full dimensional potential energy surface. When these calculations are analyzed in a quantum spirit, i.e., by discarding those trajectories whose results do not meet quantum-mechanical requirements and aiming to reproduce stringent experimental constraints, some of the discrepancies on overall reactivity and the effect of the CH vibrational excitation are now resolved. Agreement with the available experimental studies, though still qualitative in some aspects, has noticeably improved.