LASER SPECTROSCOPY OF ISO-PROPOXY AND ETHOXY FREE RADICALS

Abstract

Alkoxy free radicals play important roles in combustion and atmospheric processes. Production of the iso-propoxy and ethoxy free radicals was accomplished by laser photolysis--respectively, thired harmonic YAG and KrF excimer--of the corresponding alkyl nitrites seeded into a free jet expansion of a rare gas carrier. Using the output of a tunable dye laser as a probe. We monitored the total fluorescence from the A--X transitions. In both cases reasonably well resolved rotational structure was observed. Both asymmetric tops, the near-oblate iso-propoxy was found to give parallel C-type spectra, while the near-prolate ethoxy was found to give perpendicular C-type spectra. Details of the spectral analyses will be presented.