The reactions of hydrogen atoms with the ClCF2CHF, ClC2F4, BrC2H4, BrC2F4, and BrCF2CFBr radicals
have been studied at room temperature and 1 Torr pressure of Ar by an infrared chemiluminescence technique
in a flow reactor. The H + CF3CH2 recombination reaction was also examined to provide a reference point
to earlier experiments from this laboratory. The recombination step generates vibrationally excited molecules
that undergo HX(X = Br, Cl, F) elimination at 1 Torr of pressure. The characteristic low vibrational excitation,
〈f
V(HX)〉 ≈ 0.15, with a monotonically declining distribution from unimolecular 1,2-HX elimination reactions
versus 〈f
V(HX)〉 ≈ 0.35 with an inverted distribution from disproportionation, or direct halogen atom abstraction,
reactions is used as a diagnostic test for recombination versus disproportionation mechanisms. Upon the
basis of the observed HBr vibrational distributions, the H + BrC2F4 reaction has a small Br atom abstraction
component that is superimposed upon the HBr vibrational distribution from unimolecular HBr elimination.
The other reactions proceed only by a recombination−elimination mechanism. The multiple reaction channels,
including C−Br rupture and 1,1-HX elimination as well as 1,2-HX elimination, of the haloethanes are discussed.
The 1,1-HX elimination channel is important for the CF2XCF2H and CF2XCFXH molecules. The H + PBr3
reaction is discussed in an appendix.