Reaction dynamics of phenyl radicals (C6H5) with propylene (CH3CHCH2) and its deuterated isotopologues

The reactions between phenyl radicals (C6H5) and propylene (CH3CHCH2) together with its D6- and two D3-isotopologues were studied under single collision conditions using the crossed molecular beams technique. The chemical dynamics inferred from the center-of-mass translational and angular distributions suggests that the reactions are indirect and initiated by an addition of the phenyl radical to the alpha-carbon atom (C1 carbon atom) of the propylene molecule at the =CH2 unit to form a radical intermediate (CH3CHCH2C6H5) on the doublet surface. Investigations with D6-propylene specified that only a deuterium atom was emitted; the phenyl group was found to stay intact. Studies with 1,1,2-D3- and 3,3,3-D3-propylene indicated that the initial collision complexes CH3CDCD2C6H5 (from 1,1,2-D3-propylene) and CD3CHCH2C6H5 (from 3,3,3-D3-propylene) eject both a hydrogen atom via rather loose exit transition states to form the D3-isotopomers of cis/trans-1-phenylpropene (CH3CHCHC6H5) (80-90%) and 3-phenylpropene (H2CCHCH2C6H5) (10-20%), respectively. Implications of these findings for the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their precursors in combustion flames are discussed.