Alkali-methyl iodide reactions

Abstract

Using empirical Monte Carlo trajectory procedures, we fitted a detailed 6-atom potential energy surface to molecular beam data for Rb + CH₃I → RbI + CH₃. Measurements at a single energy of product recoil velocity and scattering angle distributions, and of the effect of aligning the CH₃I, were employed. We then used the potential surface to predict the energy dependence of the reactive cross-section, and to ascertain the consequences of omitting the CH₃ hydrogens from the calculations. Experimental data with which to compare our results are expected to appear.