Formation of the iodine monoxide radical from gas-phase reactions of iodoalkyl radicals with molecular oxygen

Formation of the iodine monoxide radical (IO) was observed during the reaction of iodoalkyl radicals (RCHI) or cyclo-C6H10I radical with O2 at 298 K using cavity ring-down spectroscopy, where R stands for CnH2n+1 (n = 0–3). The yields of IO from the reactions of various RCH2I species with Cl atom in the presence of O2 were determined. The energy level diagrams derived from theoretical calculations for each individual reaction support the formation of IO radicals via a direct RCHI radical oxidation pathway.