The loss of a Cl
atom from metastable CH2Cl2
+ in the
mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy experiment is
characterized by a borderline zero kinetic energy release and large
kinetic isotope effects on chlorine and hydrogen. Ab initio calculations
are employed to assist the interpretation in terms of a nonadiabatic
reaction involving electronic predissociation of the electronically
excited state 2A1 and two-dimensional reaction
dynamics. Strong curvature in the reaction coordinate leads to a bobsled
effect that accounts for the low kinetic energy release. The kinetic
isotope effects enter via the predissociation rate and are interpreted
in terms of vibrational overlap integrals.