Elucidating the mechanisms of excited-state atom reactions with hydrocarbons and their derivatives is important for the study of interstellar and combustion chemistry, but the underlying pathways remain underexplored. Here, the authors focus on the O(1D) + CH3OCH3 reaction and show that an unusual submerged saddle results in O+H-C collision activation stereocyclization as opposed to O-insertion into C-H bonds, providing an alternative to the commonly accepted insertion mechanisms.
- Xingyu Yang
- Jianwei Cao
- Kevin M. Hickson
