INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF NEW MOLECULES AND CLUSTERS

Gas phase infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and matrix isolation infrared absorption spectroscopy have proven to be effective spectroscopic methods to investigate novel molecular and cluster species. Vibrational spectroscopy combined with state-of-the-art quantum chemical calculations provides detailed information on geometric and electronic structures as well as chemical bonding of the observed species. In this presentation, I will highlight our recent studies on the formation and infrared spectroscopic characterization of a number of neutral and charged metal-containing compounds including high oxidation state transition metal and lanthanide oxide species and metal carbonyl clusters featuring unprecedented metal-metal multiple bonds. These findings help to expand chemical understanding of the behavior of elements and their compounds