The influence of alpha clustering on nuclear reaction dynamics is investigated using the giant dipole resonance (GDR) lineshape studies in the reactions 20 Ne (E lab =145,160 MeV) + 12 C and 20 Ne (E lab =160 MeV) + 27 Al , populating 32 S and 47 V, respectively. The GDR lineshapes from the two systems are remarkably different from each other. Whereas, the non alpha-like 47 V undergoes Jacobi shape transition and matches exceptionally well with the theoretical GDR lineshape estimated under the framework rotating liquid drop model (RLDM) and thermal shape fluctuation model (TSFM) signifying shape equilibration, for alpha cluster 32 S an extended prolate kind of shape is observed. This unusual deformation, seen directly via γ-decay for the first time, is predicted to be due to the formation of orbiting di-nuclear configuration or molecular structure of 16 O+ 16 O in 32 S superdeformed band.

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