D + C(CH3)4 → HD (v ′, j ′) + C(CH3)3CH2: possible concerted flow of vibration energy into translation

The HD (v ′, j ′) product speed distributions from the D + C(CH3)4 → HD(v ′, j ′) + C(CH3)3CH2 reaction at a centre-of-mass collision energy of 1.20 eV (27.7 kcal/mol) were measured using a three-dimensional ion imaging apparatus. Anomalously fast HD (v ′, j ′) molecules are observed that move at speeds beyond the energetically allowed limit for reagents in their ground states plus the average thermal vibrational energy present in neopentane. These products are attributed to a reaction between D atoms and thermally excited C(CH3)4 molecules in which it is speculated that vibrational energy from more than one vibrational mode of neopentane is funneled into product translation in what seems to be an unprecedented coordinated process.