Kinetics of metastable singlet NCl radicals

Metastable singlet NCl radicals are generated in a discharge—flow system efficiently (25 %) by the reaction of Cl atoms and N3 radicals: Cl(2P)+ N3(X2Πg)→ NCl(b1∑+, a1Δ, X3∑–)+ N2(X1∑g+). (1), Singlet NCl reacts with Cl2 to form NCl2 radicals, NCl*+ Cl2→ NCl2+ Cl. NCl2 radicals were detected using mass spectrometry. The NCl(a1Δ) state is the dominant precursor to NCl2. Electronic energy transfer between NCl* and O2 is shown to occur, generating singlet O2.