The vibrational spectra of molecular ions isolated in solid neon. II. O+4 and O−4

Identification of HOC•HC(O)H, HOCH2C•O, and HOCH2CH2O• Intermediates in the Reaction of H + Glycolaldehyde in Solid Para-Hydrogen and Its Implication to the Interstellar Formation of Complex Sugars

Glycolaldehyde [HOCH2C(O)H, GA], the primitive sugar-like molecule detected in the interstellar medium (ISM), is a potential precursor for the synthesis of complex sugars. Despite its importance, the mechanism governing the formation of these higher-order sugars from GA under interstellar circumstances remains elusive. Radical intermediates HOCH2CH2O• (1), HOCH2C•HOH (2), HOCH2C•O (3), HOC•HC(O)H (4), and O•CH2C(O)H (5) derived from GA could be potential precursors for the formation of glyceraldehyde (aldose sugar), dihydroxyacetone (ketose sugar), and ethylene glycol (sugar alcohol) in dark regions of ISM. However, the spectral identification of these intermediates and their roles were little investigated. We conducted reactions involving H atoms and the Cis-cis conformer of GA (Cc-GA) in solid p-H2 at 3.2 K and identified IR spectra of radicals Cc-HOCH2C•O (3) and Cc-HOC•HC(O)H (4) produced from H abstraction as well as closed-shell HOCHCO (6) produced via consecutive H abstraction of GA. In addition, Cc-HOCH2CH2O• (1) and C•H2OH + H2CO (7) were produced through the H addition and the H-induced fragmentation channels, respectively. In darkness, when only H-tunneling reactions occurred, the formation of (3) was major and that of (1) was minor. In contrast, during IR irradiation to produce H atoms with higher energy, the formation of (4) and C•H2OH + H2CO (7) became important. We also successfully converted most Cc-GA to the second-lowest-energy conformer Trans-trans-GA (Tt-GA) by prolonged IR irradiation at 2827 nm to investigate H + Tt-GA; Tt-HOCH2C•O (3'), Tt-HOC•HC(O)H (4'), HOCHCO (6), Tt-HOCH2CH2O• (1'), and C•H2OH + H2CO (7) were observed. We discuss possible routes for the formation of higher-order sugars or related compounds involving (7), (1), (3), and (4), but neither (2), which was proposed previously, nor (5) plays a significant role in H + GA. Such previously unreported rich chemistry in the reaction of H + GA, with four channels of three distinct types, indicates the multiple roles that GA might play in astronomical chemistry.

Infrared spectroscopy of the α-hydroxyethyl radical isolated in cryogenic solid media

The α-hydroxyethyl radical (CH3·CHOH, 2A) is a key intermediate in ethanol biochemistry, combustion, atmospheric chemistry, radiation chemistry, and astrochemistry. Experimental data on the vibrational spectrum of this radical are crucially important for reliable detection and understanding of the chemical dynamics of this species. This study represents the first detailed experimental report on the infrared absorption bands of the α-hydroxyethyl radical complemented by ab initio computations. The radical was generated in solid para-H2 and Xe matrices via the reactions of hydrogen atoms with matrix-isolated ethanol molecules and radiolysis of isolated ethanol molecules with x rays. The absorption bands with maxima at 3654.6, 3052.1, 1425.7, 1247.9, 1195.6 (1177.4), and 1048.4 cm-1, observed in para-H2 matrices appearing upon the H· atom reaction, were attributed to the OHstr, α-CHstr, CCstr, COstr + CCObend, COstr, and CCstr + CCObend vibrational modes of the CH3·CHOH radical, respectively. The absorption bands with the positions slightly red-shifted from those observed in para-H2 were detected in both the irradiated and post-irradiation annealed Xe matrices containing C2H5OH. The results of the experiments with the isotopically substituted ethanol molecules (CH3CD2OH and CD3CD2OH) and the quantum-chemical computations at the UCCSD(T)/L2a_3 level support the assignment. The photolysis with ultraviolet light (240-300 nm) results in the decay of the α-hydroxyethyl radical, yielding acetaldehyde and its isomer, vinyl alcohol. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical results suggests that the radical adopts the thermodynamically more stable anti-conformation in both matrices.

Formation of Para-H2O by Vacuum-UV Photolysis of O2 in Solid Hydrogen: Implication for Astrochemistry

The observation that the ortho to para ratio (OPR) of interstellar H₂O is smaller than 3 is an important yet unresolved subject in astronomy. We irradiated O₂ embedded in solid H₂ at 3 K with vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) light and observed IR lines associated with para-H₂O (denoted as pH₂O) and nonrotating H₂O-(oH₂)_n (where oH₂ denotes ortho-H₂) but no lines associated with ortho-H₂O (denoted as oH₂O). After maintaining the matrix in darkness for ∼30 h, the amount of pH₂O decreased, accompanied by an increase in H₂O-(oH₂)_n via diffusion of oH₂. After that, the continuous nuclear-spin conversion from oH₂ to para-H₂ (denoted as pH₂) in solid H₂ over time resulted in the conversion of nonrotating H₂O-(oH₂)_n to rotating pH₂O in solid pH₂. The observation of the formation and conversion of pH₂O in our experiment suggests a plausible route in which VUV irradiation of O₂ and H₂ adsorbed on grain surfaces might be responsible for the smaller OPR of interstellar H₂O.

Hydrogen-Atom-Assisted Uphill Isomerization of N-Methylformamide in Darkness

N-Methylformamide, HC(O)NH(CH₃), is the smallest amide detected in the interstellar medium that can exist as cis and trans isomers. We performed reactions of H atoms with trans-NMF in solid para-hydrogen at 3.3 K and found that the cis-NMF isomer, which has higher energy, increased continuously in darkness, demonstrating a previously overlooked and seemingly unlikely isomerization of prebiotic molecules through H-atom tunneling reactions in the absence of light. Infrared spectra of radical intermediates trans-•C(O)NH(CH₃) and trans-HC(O)NH(•CH₂) were identified. Further H addition and H abstraction enhanced the formation of CH₃NCO, HNCO, and CH₂NH in the H-rich experiments. These results indicate that, unlike the dual cycle of H-abstraction and H-addition channels chemically linking formamide and HNCO, the H addition to CH₃NCO produced only cis-radicals that led to cis-NMF. Furthermore, H-atom-induced fragmentation by breaking the C-C bond provides links between NMF and HCNO/CH₂NH. These endothermic isomerization/decomposition reactions become possible through the coupling with H + H → H₂.

Energy and analytic gradients for the orbital-optimized coupled-cluster doubles method with the density-fitting approximation: An efficient implementation

Efficient implementations of the orbital-optimized coupled-cluster doubles (or simply "optimized CCD," OCCD, for short) method and its analytic energy gradients with the density-fitting (DF) approach, denoted by DF-OCCD, are presented. In addition to the DF approach, the Cholesky-decomposed variant (CD-OCCD) is also implemented for energy computations. The computational cost of the DF-OCCD method (available in a plugin version of the DFOCC module of PSI4) is compared with that of the conventional OCCD (from the Q-CHEM package). The OCCD computations were performed with the Q-CHEM package in which OCCD are denoted by OD. In the conventional OCCD method, one needs to perform four-index integral transformations at each of the CCD iterations, which limits its applications to large chemical systems. Our results demonstrate that DF-OCCD provides dramatically lower computational costs compared to OCCD, and there are almost eightfold reductions in the computational time for the C₆H₁₄ molecule with the cc-pVTZ basis set. For open-shell geometries, interaction energies, and hydrogen transfer reactions, DF-OCCD provides significant improvements upon DF-CCD. Furthermore, the performance of the DF-OCCD method is substantially better for harmonic vibrational frequencies in the case of symmetry-breaking problems. Moreover, several factors make DF-OCCD more attractive compared to CCSD: (1) for DF-OCCD, there is no need for orbital relaxation contributions in analytic gradient computations; (2) active spaces can readily be incorporated into DF-OCCD; (3) DF-OCCD provides accurate vibrational frequencies when symmetry-breaking problems are observed; (4) in its response function, DF-OCCD avoids artificial poles; hence, excited-state molecular properties can be computed via linear response theory; and (5) symmetric and asymmetric triples corrections based on DF-OCCD [DF-OCCD(T)] have a significantly better performance in near degeneracy regions.

Hydrogen abstraction in astrochemistry: formation of ˙CH2CONH2 in the reaction of H atom with acetamide (CH3CONH2) and photolysis of ˙CH2CONH2 to form ketene (CH2CO) in solid para-hydrogen

The amide bond of acetamide is unaffected by hydrogen exposure, but the hydrogen abstraction on its methyl site activates this molecule to react with other species to extend its size as a first step to form interstellar complex organic molecules.

Synthesis of magnesium-nitrogen salts of polynitrogen anions

The synthesis of polynitrogen compounds is of fundamental importance due to their potential as environmentally-friendly high energy density materials. Attesting to the intrinsic difficulties related to their formation, only three polynitrogen ions, bulk stabilized as salts, are known. Here, magnesium and molecular nitrogen are compressed to about 50 GPa and laser-heated, producing two chemically simple salts of polynitrogen anions, MgN4 and Mg2N4. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals infinite anionic polythiazyl-like 1D N-N chains in the crystal structure of MgN4 and cis-tetranitrogen N44- units in the two isosymmetric polymorphs of Mg2N4. The cis-tetranitrogen units are found to be recoverable at atmospheric pressure. Our results respond to the quest for polynitrogen entities stable at ambient conditions, reveal the potential of employing high pressures in their synthesis and enrich the nitrogen chemistry through the discovery of other nitrogen species, which provides further possibilities to design improved polynitrogen arrangements.

Introductory lecture: advances in ion spectroscopy: from astrophysics to biology

This introduction provides a historical context for the development of ion spectroscopy over the past half century by following the evolution of experimental methods to the present state-of-the-art. Rather than attempt a comprehensive review, we focus on how early work on small ions, carried out with fluorescence, direct absorption, and photoelectron spectroscopy, evolved into powerful technologies that can now address complex chemical problems ranging from catalysis to biophysics. One of these developments is the incorporation of cooling and temperature control to enable the general application of "messenger tagging" vibrational spectroscopy, first carried out using ionized supersonic jets and then with buffer gas cooling in radiofrequency ion traps. Some key advances in the application of time-resolved pump-probe techniques to follow ultrafast dynamics are also discussed, as are significant benchmarks in the refinement of ion mobility to allow spectroscopic investigation of large biopolymers with well-defined shapes. We close with a few remarks on challenges and opportunities to explore molecular level mechanics that drive macroscopic behavior.

Reaction of H + HONO in solid para-hydrogen: infrared spectrum of ˙ONH(OH)

Hydrogenation reactions in the N/O chemical network are important for an understanding of the mechanism of formation of organic molecules in dark interstellar clouds, but many reactions remain unknown.

Orbital-optimized linearized coupled-cluster doubles with density-fitting and Cholesky decomposition approximations: an efficient implementation

An efficient implementation of the orbital-optimized linearized coupled-cluster double method with the density-fitting (DF-OLCCD) and Cholesky decomposition (CD-OLCCD) approximations is presented.

Density cumulant functional theory from a unitary transformation: N-representability, three-particle correlation effects, and application to O4(+)

A new approach to density cumulant functional theory is developed that derives density cumulant N-representability conditions from an approximate Fock space unitary transformation. We present explicit equations for the third- and fourth-order two-particle cumulant N-representability, as well as the second-order contributions that depend on the connected three-particle density cumulant. These conditions are used to formulate the ODC-13 method and the non-iterative (λ3) correction that employ an incomplete description of the fourth-order two-particle cumulant N-representability and the second-order three-particle correlation effects, respectively. We perform an analysis of the ODC-13 N-representability description for the dissociation of H2 and apply the ODC-13 method and the (λ3) correction to diatomic molecules with multiple bond character and the symmetry-breaking tetraoxygen cation (O4(+)). For the O4(+) molecule, the vibrational frequencies of the ODC-13(λ3) method do not exhibit spatial symmetry breaking and are in a good agreement with the recent infrared photodissociation experiment. We report the O4(+) equilibrium structure, harmonic frequencies, and dissociation energy computed using ODC-13(λ3) with a diffuse, core-correlated aug-cc-pCVTZ basis set.

Cold condensation of dust in the ISM

The condensation of complex silicates with pyroxene and olivine composition under conditions prevailing in molecular clouds has been experimentally studied. For this purpose, molecular species comprising refractory elements were forced to accrete on cold substrates representing the cold surfaces of surviving dust grains in the interstellar medium. The efficient formation of amorphous and homogeneous magnesium iron silicates at temperatures of about 12 K has been monitored by IR spectroscopy. The gaseous precursors of such condensation processes in the interstellar medium are formed by erosion of dust grains in supernova shock waves. In the laboratory, we have evaporated glassy silicate dust analogs and embedded the released species in neon ice matrices that have been studied spectroscopically to identify the molecular precursors of the condensing solid silicates. A sound coincidence between the 10 microm band of the interstellar silicates and the 10 microm band of the low-temperature siliceous condensates can be noted.

Experimental and theoretical studies of the infrared spectra and bonding properties of NgBeCO₃ and a comparison with NgBeO (Ng = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe)

The novel neon complex NeBeCO3 has been prepared in a low-temperature neon matrix via codeposition of laser-evaporated beryllium atoms with O2 + CO/Ne. Doping by the heavier noble gas atoms argon, krypton and xenon yielded the associated adducts NgBeCO3 (Ng = Ar, Kr, Xe). The noble gas complexes have been identified via infrared spectroscopy. Quantum chemical calculations of NgBeCO3 and NgBeO (Ng = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) using ab initio methods and density functional theory show that the Ng-BeCO3 bonds are slightly longer and weaker than the Ng-BeO bonds. The energy decomposition analysis of the Ng-Be bonds suggests that the attractive interactions come mainly from the Ng → BeCO3 and Ng → BeO σ donation.

On walking in the footprints of giants

This article tells of a lifelong fascination with light, a messenger bearing information from realms ranging from the galactic to the submicroscopic. Personal interactions have shaped and informed this life journey. Accounts of some of the most important of these are related. Infrared and electronic spectra have been obtained, often for the first time, for many small free radicals and molecular ions-short-lived reaction intermediates in most chemical processes. The infrared spectrum of a molecule tells how its atoms vibrate with respect to one another and is as characteristic of the molecule as a fingerprint is of a person. Analysis of this spectrum provides sometimes surprising information about the structure and chemical bonding of the molecule in its lowest-energy electronic state. The electronic spectrum provides information on the molecule in more highly excited electronic states, in which its structure or reaction pattern may change or it may decompose.

Theoretical and infrared spectroscopic investigation of the O(2) (-).benzene and O(4) (-).benzene complexes

The infrared spectra of the O(2) (-).benzene and O(4) (-).benzene complexes are determined by means of Ar predissociation spectroscopy. Several transitions due to CH stretch fundamentals and various combination bands are observed in the 2700-3100 cm(-1) region. The experimental results are interpreted with the aid of electronic structure calculations. A comparison of the calculated and experimental spectra reveals that the spectrum of O(2) (-).benzene most likely arises from an isomer where the superoxide molecule binds preferentially to one CH group of benzene. In contrast, the spectrum of O(4) (-).benzene yields a CH pattern remarkably similar to that displayed by the C(2nu) X(-).benzene (X=halogen) complexes, consistent with a structure with two CH groups equally involved in the bonding. The lower energy vibrational fundamental transitions of the O(4) (-) anion are recovered with a slight redshift in the O(4) (-).benzene spectrum, establishing that this charge-delocalized dimer ion retains its identity upon complexation.

Exploration of the potential energy surfaces, prediction of atmospheric concentrations, and prediction of vibrational spectra for the HO2...(H2O)n (n = 1-2) hydrogen bonded complexes

The hydroperoxy radical (HO2) plays a critical role in Earth's atmospheric chemistry as a component of many important reactions. The self-reaction of hydroperoxy radicals in the gas phase is strongly affected by the presence of water vapor. In this work, we explore the potential energy surfaces of hydroperoxy radicals hydrogen bonded to one or two water molecules, and predict atmospheric concentrations and vibrational spectra of these complexes. We predict that when the HO2 concentration is on the order of 10(8) molecules x cm(-3) at 298 K, that the number of HO2...H2O complexes is on the order of 10(7) molecules x cm(-3) and the number of HO2...(H2O)2 complexes is on the order of 10(6) molecules x cm(-3). Using the computed abundance of HO2...H2O, we predict that, at 298 K, the bimolecular rate constant for HO2...H2O + HO2 is about 10 times that for HO2 + HO2.

Mechanistical studies on the formation of isotopomers of hydrogen peroxide (HOOH), hydrotrioxy (HOOO), and dihydrogentrioxide (HOOOH) in electron-irradiated H218O/O2 ice mixtures

In order to investigate the chemical reactions inside water-oxygen ice mixtures in extreme environments, and to confirm the proposed reaction mechanisms in pure water ice, we conducted a detailed infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry study on the electron irradiation of H(2)(18)O/O(2) ice mixtures. The formation of molecular hydrogen, isotopically substituted oxygen molecules (18)O(18)O and (16)O(18)O, ozone ((16)O(16)O(16)O, (16)O(16)O(18)O, and (16)O(18)O(16)O), hydrogen peroxide (H(18)O(18)OH, H(16)O(16)OH and H(16)O(18)OH), hydrotrioxy (HOOO), and dihydrogentrioxide (HOOOH) were detected. Kinetic models and reaction mechanisms are proposed to form these molecules in water and oxygen-rich solar system ices.

Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide on Group 11 Metal Atoms: Matrix-Isolation Infrared Spectroscopic and Density Functional Theory Study

Laser-ablated Cu, Ag, and Au atoms react with CO and O2 mixture in solid argon to produce carbonyl metal oxides, (O2)Cu(CO)(n) (n = 1, 2), (eta(1)-OO)MCO (M = Ag, Au), OCAuO2CO, and OAuCO, as well as group 11 metal carbonyls and oxides. These carbonyl metal oxides are characterized using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic substitution and the CO concentration change. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed on these molecules. The identifications of these carbonyl metal oxides are confirmed by the good agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts. Carbon dioxide is eliminated from these carbonyl metal oxides upon UV irradiation, providing the evidence for the oxidation of carbon monoxide on group 11 metal atoms. The present experiments also reveal that the reactivity of copper toward CO is prior to O2, and the reactivity of silver toward O2 is prior to CO, whereas the reactivity of gold toward CO is comparable to O2.

Formation and Characterization of the XeOO+ Cation in Solid Argon

This report presents the preparation and characterization of a xenon-containing cationic radical species, XeOO+. The XeOO+ cation was produced either by co-deposition of the reactive species generated by laser ablation of different transition metals with dioxygen and xenon mixtures in excess argon or by condensation of high-frequency discharged O2/Xe/Ar mixtures at 12 K and is identified by infrared absorptions. High-level quantum chemical calculations indicate that XeOO+ has a bent structure with direct xenon-oxygen dative bonding, and the doublet ground state is much more stable than the Xe + O2+ reactants.

Noble Gas−Transition-Metal Complexes: Coordination of VO2 and VO4 by Ar and Xe Atoms in Solid Noble Gas Matrixes

The matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and quantum chemical calculation results indicate that vanadium oxides, VO2 and VO4, coordinate noble gas atoms in forming noble gas complexes. The results showed that VO2 coordinates two Ar or Xe atoms and that VO4 coordinates one Ar or Xe atom in solid noble gas matrixes. Hence, the VO2 and VO4 molecules trapped in solid noble gas matrixes should be regarded as the VO2(Ng)2 and VO4(Ng) (Ng = Ar or Xe) complexes. The total V-Ng binding energies were predicted to be 12.8, 18.2, 5.0, and 7.3 kcal/mol, respectively, for the VO2(Ar)2, VO2(Xe)2, VO4(Ar), and VO4(Xe) complexes at the CCSD(T)//B3LYP level of theory.

Zinc and Cadmium Dihydroxide Molecules: Matrix Infrared Spectra and Theoretical Calculations

Laser-ablated zinc and cadmium atoms were mixed uniformly with H2 and O2 in excess argon or neon and with O2 in pure hydrogen or deuterium during deposition at 8 or 4 K. UV irradiation excites metal atoms to insert into O2 producing OMO molecules (M = Zn, Cd), which react further with H2 to give the metal hydroxides M(OH)2 and HMOH. The M(OH)2 molecules were identified through O-H and M-O stretching modes with appropriate HD, D2, (16,18)O2, and (18)O2 isotopic shifts. The HMOH molecules were characterized by O-H, M-H, and M-O stretching modes and an M-O-H bending mode, which were particularly strong in pure H2/D2. Analogous Zn and Cd atom reactions with H2O2 in excess argon produced the same M(OH)2 absorptions. Density functional theory and MP2 calculations reproduce the IR spectra of these molecules. The bonding of Group 12 metal dihydroxides and comparison to Group 2 dihydroxides are discussed. Although the Group 12 dihydroxide O-H stretching frequencies are lower, calculated charges show that the Group 2 dihydroxide molecules are more ionic.

Infrared Spectra and Electronic Structure Calculations for the Group 2 Metal M(OH)2 Dihydroxide Molecules

Reactions of laser-ablated Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba atoms with O2 and H2 in excess argon give new absorptions in the O-H and O-M-O stretching regions, which increase together upon UV photolysis and are due to the M(OH)2 molecules (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba). The same product absorptions are observed in the metal atom reactions with H2O2. The M(OH)2 identifications are supported by isotopic substitution and theoretical calculations (B3LYP and MP2). The O-H stretching frequencies of the alkaline earth metal dihydroxide molecules decrease from 3829.8 to 3784.6 to 3760.6 to 3724.2 cm(-1) in the family series in solid argon, while the base strength of the solid compounds increases. Calculations show that Sr(OH)2 and Ba(OH)2 are bent at the metal center, owing to d orbital involvement in the bonding. Although these molecules are predominantly ionic, the O-H stretching frequencies do not reach the ionic limit of gaseous OH- going down the family group because of cation-anion polarization and p(pi) --> d(pi) interactions.

Infrared Spectrum of Hg(OH)2 in Solid Neon and Argon

Mercury(II) hydroxide molecules have been prepared upon mercury arc lamp irradiation of Hg, H(2), and O(2) mixtures in solid neon and argon. The strongest three infrared absorptions are identified through isotopic substitution (D(2), HD, (18)O(2), (16)O(18)O) and comparison to frequencies from DFT calculations. The isolated Hg(OH)(2) molecule is stable and has a linear O-Hg-O linkage in a C(2) structure with an 86 degrees dihedral angle. However, in aqueous solution Hg(2+) and 2OH(-) may form an Hg(OH)(2) intermediate, which eliminates water and precipitates solid HgO: The solid Hg(OH)(2) compound is not known.

Experimental and theoretical characterization of H(2)OOO(+)

This report presents the preparation and characterization of H2OOO+, an important intermediate in water-oxygen chemistry. The H2OOO+ cation was produced by co-deposition of H2O/Ar with radio frequency discharged O2/Ar at 4 K and was identified by four fundamental infrared absorptions. Quantum chemical calculations indicate a doublet ground state with a H2O-O2 hemi-bonded Cs structure.

Infrared spectra of group 14 hydrides in solid hydrogen: experimental observation of PbH4, Pb2H2, and Pb2H4

Laser-ablated Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb atoms have been co-deposited with pure hydrogen at 3.5 K to form the group 14 hydrides. The initial SiH(2) product reacts completely to SiH(4), whereas substantial proportions of GeH(2), SnH(2), and PbH(2) are trapped in solid hydrogen. Further hydrogen atom reactions form the trihydride radicals and tetrahydrides of Ge, Sn, and Pb. The observation of PbH(4) at 1815 cm(-)(1) and PbD(4) at 1302 cm(-)(1) is in agreement with the prediction of quantum chemical calculations for these unstable tetrahydride analogues of methane. In addition, new absorptions are observed for Pb(2)H(2) and Pb(2)H(4), which have dibridged structures based on quantum chemical calculations.

In search of covalently bound tetra- and penta-oxygen species: a photoelectron spectroscopic and Ab initio investigation of MO4- and MO5- (M = Li, Na, K, Cs)

Although neutral and ionic O4(0/-/+) species have been observed experimentally and considered for energetic materials, O4(2-) and O5(2-) dianions have not yet been explored. O4(2-) is valent isoelectronic to the well-known ClO3- and SO3(2-) anions, and O5(2-) is valent isoelectronic to ClO4- and SO4(2-). All are stable, common anions in solutions and inorganic salts. In this article, we explore the possibility of making covalently bound O4(2-) and O5(2-) species stabilized in the forms of M+O4(2-) and M+O5(2-) (M = Li, Na, K, Cs) in the gas phase. Laser vaporization experiments using M-containing targets and an O2-seeded carrier gas yielded very intense mass peaks corresponding to MO4- and MO5-. To elucidate the structure and bonding of the newly observed MO4- and MO5- species, we measured their photoelectron spectra and then compared them with ab initio calculations and the spectra of ClO3-, Na+SO3(2-), ClO4-, and Na+SO4(2-). Careful analyses of the experimental and ab initio results showed, however, that the observed species are of the forms, O2-M+O2- and O2-M+O3-. The more interesting M+O4(2-) and M+O5(2-) species were found to be higher-energy isomers, but they are true minima on the potential energy surfaces, which suggests that it might be possible to synthesize bulk materials containing covalently bound tetra- and pentatomic oxygen building blocks.