A crossed molecular beam study on the reaction of boron atoms, B(2Pj), with benzene, C6H6(X1A1g), and D6-benzene C6D6(X1A1g)

The reactions of ground-state boron atoms, B(2Pj), with benzene, C6H6(X1A1g), and deuterated benzene C6D6(X1A1g), were studied in crossed molecular beam experiments. The reaction is indirect and involved an addition of atomic boron to one carbon atom of benzene following isomerization of the intermediate to the phenylboryl radical. The latter decomposed to benzoborirene (p1), plus atomic hydrogen/deuterium.