Ultraviolet photodissociation of the HCCO radical studied by fast radical beam photofragment translational spectroscopy

The ultraviolet photolysis of jet‐cooled mass‐selected ketenyl radicals has been investigated using the technique of fast radical beam photofragment translational spectroscopy. The C2Π(2A″)–X2A″ photofragment yield cross section spans 33 400–48 000 cm−1 and exhibits resolved resonances and broad continua. Dissociation produces both ground and excited state CH radicals in association with ground state CO fragments; there is no evidence for H atom elimination. Analysis of the photofragment kinetic energy release spectra yield a value for the C–C bond dissociation energy and heat of formation of HCCO: D0(HC–CO)=3.14±0.03 eV (72.4±0.7 kcal/mol) and ΔHf,00(HCCO)=1.82±0.03 eV (42.0±0.7 kcal/mol).