Abstract
With recent developments of sophisticated experimental techniques and advanced theoretical methods/ computations, the field of chemical reaction dynamics has reached to the point that theory‒experiment comparisons can be made at a quantitative level for a few prototypical A + BC systems. As the system becomes larger, more degrees of freedom are involved and the complexity increases exponentially. Yet, the multifaceted nature of polyatomic systems also opens the possibilities for observing many new physics/chemistry and novel phenomena—a land of opportunities—as Philip. W. Anderson advocated fifty years ago: More is Different (Science, 1972). In this talk, I shall recall how my laboratory at IAMS wondered from studying A + BC to toying small polyatomic system: the reactions of methane + X (X: F, Cl, O(3P), and OH). This effort shifts the paradigm in the field of reaction dynamics by making the methane (CH4) reaction a benchmark. Some of the key concepts introduced and unexpected phenomena uncovered will be highlighted. Those findings not only enrich our understanding of the studied reactions at the most fundamental level and inspire the theoretical developments, but also shape our thinking and lay the foundation for future explorations of different aspects of the multifaceted nature of polyatomic reactivity.