Photodissociation studies of the CH2OD radical in the region 28 000-41 000 cm-1 (357-244 nm), which includes excitation to the 3s, 3p(x), and 3p(z) states, are reported. H and D photofragments are monitored by using resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) from the onset of H formation at similar to30 500 cm(-1) to the origin band region of the 3p(z)((2)A('))<--1 (2)A(') transition at 41 050 cm(.)(-1) Kinetic energy distributions P(E-T) and recoil anisotropy parameters as a function of kinetic energy, beta(eff)(E-T), are determined by the core sampling technique for the channels producing H and D fragments. Two dissociation channels are identified: (I) D+CH2O and (II) H+CHOD. The contribution of channel II increases monotonically as the excitation energy is increased. Based on the calculations of Hoffmann and Yarkony [J. Chem. Phys. 116, 8300 (2002)], it is concluded that conical intersections between 3s and the ground state determine the final branching ratio even when initial excitation accesses the 3p(x) and 3p(z) states. The different beta(eff) values obtained for channels I and II (-0.7 and similar to0.0, respectively) are attributed to the different extents of out-of-plane nuclear motions in the specific couplings between 3s and the ground state (of A(') and A(') symmetry, respectively) that lead to each channel. The upper limit to the dissociation energy of the C-H bond, determined from P(E-T), is D-0(C-H)=3.4+/-0.1 eV (79+/-2 kcal/mol). Combining this value with the known heats of formation of H and CH2OD, the heat of formation of CHOD is estimated at DeltaH(f)(0)(CHOD)=24+/-2 kcal/mol. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.