The possibility of spin-orbit induced association reactions controlled by optimized femtosecond laser pulses is demonstrated for the example of Br+(P-3) + H(S-2) --> HBr+ (X-2 Pi/A(2)Sigma(+)) association. The nuclear wavepacket dynamics is simulated on the basis of ab initio data for HBr+. To achieve permanent, vibrationally state-selective association, both a Feshbach resonance between collision and vibronic energies and optimal timing between spin-orbit induced and laser pulse assisted transitions are important. The novel method can be effective even when direct photoassociation is forbidden. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.