Communication: State-to-state dynamics of the Cl + H2O → HCl plus OH reaction: Energy flow into reaction coordinate and transition-state control of product energy disposal

Quantum state-to-state dynamics of a prototypical four-atom reaction, namely, Cl + H2O -> HCl + OH, is investigated for the first time in full dimensionality using a transition-state wave packet method. The state-to-state reactivity and its dependence on the reactant internal excitations are analyzed and found to share many similarities both energetically and dynamically with the H + H2O -> H-2 + OH reaction. The strong enhancement of reactivity by the H2O stretching vibrational excitations in both reactions is attributed to the favorable energy flow into the reaction coordinate near the transition state. On the other hand, the insensitivity of the product state distributions with regard to reactant internal excitation stems apparently from the transition-state control of product energy disposal. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.